Optimism Press
We have one mission: to publish the ideas that inspire us and give us the tools we need to build a more optimistic world.
What is Optimism Press?
Optimism Press is Simon's publishing imprint with Penguin Random House. We look to the business world, the nonprofit world, the military, politics, education, the clergy, and elsewhere to find authors who can both inspire us and offer us direction on how to build a world in which people feel inspired, safe, and fulfilled in their professional and personal lives.
Optimism Press authors challenge our perspectives of how the world works, and offer new tools to help us on our own journey so that together we can build a brighter future.
The Books
How to Make a Plant Love You
Summer Rayne Oakes
Everyone deserves to feel the inner peace that comes from taking care of greenery. Beyond the obvious benefits—beauty and cleaner air—there's a strong psychological benefit to nurturing plants.
Trust First
Bruce Deel
Of course, trust alone can't overcome a broken system that perpetuates inequality. Trust First examines the context in which Bruce's Atlanta neighborhood went downhill.
The Power of Giving Away Power
Matthew Barzun
If you let go of hierarchy, chaos will reign...or so many leaders believe. But when leaders find the courage to distribute power—rather than hoard it—creativity multiplies, trust deepens, inclusivity expands, and a new kind of order emerges.
Partnering
Jean Oelwang
Some of the most successful people in the world all have a secret power—the ability to partner. In Partnering, Oelwang illuminates the core thread that weaves through sixty extraordinary partnerships and collaborations.
Everybody Matters
Bob Chapman
Chapman and coauthor Raj Sisodia show how any organization can reject the traumatic consequences of rolling layoffs, dehumanizing rules, and hypercompetitive cultures.
Unreasonable Hospitality
Will Guidara
Essential lessons in hospitality for every business, from the former co-owner of legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park.
The Courage of Compassion
Robin Steinberg
A gritty tale about confronting injustice and challenging ourselves to rediscover our shared humanity, The Courage of Compassion is an invitation to join Steinberg as she explores what it will take to move beyond our current justice paradigm.