We live in a time of instant gratification, where we have forgotten to consider the long-term consequences of our actions. Whether it's decision about out health, our finances or our jobs, we lack the tools we need to choose what's best for the future. In The Optimist's Telescope, journalist and advisor in the Obama administration Bina Venkataraman draws on her own experience to highlight the surprising and successful practices that each of us can adopt to make smarter, more thoughtful choices that benefit us over time.