20 Best Books On Positive Psychology (2023 Update)

Most people want to be successful in life. and of course, everyone wants to be happy. when it comes to the pursuit of success and happiness, most people assume the same formula: if you work hard, you will become successful, and once you become successful, then you'll be happy. the only problem is that a decade of cutting-edge research in the field of positive psychology has proven that this formula is backwards. success does not beget happiness. based on the largest study ever conducted on happiness and human potential (a survey conducted by the author of more than 1,600 students), harvard lecturer shawn achor shares seven core principles of positive psychology that each one of us can use to improve our performance, grow our careers, and gain a competitive edge at work. he reveals how happiness actually fuels success and performance, not the other way around. why? the happiness advantage will appeal to anyone who wants practical advice on how to become happier and also more successful.

Positive psychology is currently equated with theory and research on the positive aspects of life. the reality could not be further from the truth. positive psychology investigates and researches some of the most difficult and painful experiences. this more nuanced approach to the notions of 'positive' and 'negative' can be described as the 'second wave' of positive psychology. positive psychology is one of the fastest growing and least understood branches of psychology. exploring topics at the heart of positive psychology, such as meaning, resilience, human development, mortality, change, suffering, and spirituality, this book engages with so-called 'negative' matters from a positive psychology angle, showing how the path of personal development can involve experiences which, while challenging, can lead to growth, insight, healing and transformation. containing useful resources, case studies, practical exercises and chapter summaries, second wave positive psychology is an essential guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying positive psychology, as well as clinicians wanting to know more about the subject. it will also be relevant to the layperson who is interested in positive psychology.

R. snyder bring positive psychology to life by illustrating issues such as how psychological strength can help increase positive outcomes in school and the workplace and promote cooperative relationships among people. furthermore, the book encourages readers to engage with concepts in order to understand positive emotions and strengths, such as empathy, altruism, gratitude, attachment, and love. over 50 case studies grounded in practice, research, and the authors’ teaching experience reveal how positive psychological phenomena operate in the lives of real people.

This book is designed to serve as a primary text for an undergraduate college course in positive psychology. consistent with the "nuts and bolts" presentation of positive psychology, in many places throughout the book the authors provide detailed coverage of individual research studies, methodological issues and theoretical controversies. the first goal in writing this book was to make positive psychology accessible to undergraduate students by reviewing and summarizing the major empirical findings and theories within the major areas of positive psychology. specifically, the authors hope to bridge the gap between an undergraduate audience and the professional level of source material. a second goal was to present the core topics of positive psychology in a way that preserves the richness and excitement of findings in this new area of psychology. as a result, the subject matter of positive psychology has high intrinsic interest. the authors hope to engage and maintain this interest by making frequent connections and applications to the everyday lives of readers. a third goal was to present positive psychology without compromising the complexities of research and theory that is, the goal was to present positive psychology as it is — a work in progress. put another way, this book is a "nuts and bolts" view of positive psychology with a primary emphasis on the results of empirical studies and the theories that help explain them.

A national bestseller, authentic happiness launched the revolutionary new science of positive psychology-and sparked a coast-to-coast debate on the nature of real happiness. according to esteemed psychologist and bestselling author martin seligman, happiness is not the result of good genes or luck. real, lasting happiness comes from focusing on one's personal strengths rather than weaknesses-and working with them to improve all aspects of one's life. using practical exercises, brief tests, and a dynamic website program, seligman shows readers how to identify their highest virtues and use them in ways they haven't yet considered.

A national bestseller, authentic happiness launched the revolutionary new science of positive psychology-and sparked a coast-to-coast debate on the nature of real happiness. according to esteemed psychologist and bestselling author martin seligman, happiness is not the result of good genes or luck. real, lasting happiness comes from focusing on one's personal strengths rather than weaknesses-and working with them to improve all aspects of one's life. using practical exercises, brief tests, and a dynamic website program, seligman shows readers how to identify their highest virtues and use them in ways they haven't yet considered.

"the best general introduction to positive psychology available." dr alex linley, university of leicester, uk "dr ilona boniwell is recognized as europe’s leading researcher, innovator and thinker in the expanding world of positive psychology. positive psychology in a nutshell offers something for everyone with an interest in discovering how to live optimally. this brilliant little book is packed with scientific evidence identifying the key ingredients that help to create a happy life. read it and learn how to change yours for the better." dr cecilia d'felice, consultant psychologist, author and columnist for the times and the metro "positive psychology in a nutshell is a little gem of a book, beautifully and engagingly written, and having the marks of a cogent teacher who has mastered the contemporary structure, bounds and outreach of her field. this is a 'must read', and a welcome antidote for all those engaged in the caring professions." richard whitfield, human development specialist, educator, poet and chairman of trustees of the face-to-face trust "as good an introduction to positive psychology as you can read. a must-read book for all those involved in the education and health industries." dr anthony seldon, master, wellington college, berkshire, uk "positive psychology in a nutshell is a comprehensive, user friendly, thoughtful introduction and critique of the field. simply put, it is the best overview out there that can be read in a couple of sittings. those with no psychology background find it fascinating and informative; those with serious credentials find it to be a credible overview and critique of the field." dr carol kauffman, co-founder and director of the coaching and positive psychology initiative, harvard medical school, usa "in a nutshell, i could scarcely put down this intelligent, balanced and irresistible introduction to positive psychology!" dr sean cameron, co-director, practitioner doctorate in educational psychology, university college london, uk "it is very readable, seductively so, and is no doubt as good an introduction to the subject as you can get … emotional wellbeing is complex and there are useful insights here to shore up the flabby phrases tossed around by politicians … there are some parts of this book i will use and anyone who wants to find out about positive psychology should start here." mike shooter is a child psychiatrist and president of bacp, uk when you hear the words 'positive psychology' or 'the science of well-being', do you wonder what it's all about? 'what makes us fulfilled?' and 'is happiness necessary for a good life?' discover the latest thinking on the topics of happiness, flow, optimism, motivation, character strengths and love, and learn how to apply it to your life. ilona boniwell presents an engaging overview of the science of optimal functioning and well-being, which combines real readability with a broad academic base applied to day-to-day life. now fully updated and enhanced with new material on how to: change your mindset practice mindfulness develop better resilience enhance your well-being at work adopt positive leadership introducing positive psychology in a friendly, straightforward way, this international bestseller is peppered with many simple tools and tips for daily living that will help you love your life.

The second edition of positive psychology features ground-breaking evidence and thinking on the topics of happiness, flow, optimism, motivation and more. discover how to increase happiness levels, what obstacles to flourishing affect our day-to-day lives and how to apply positive psychology to diverse professional disciplines. the authors map the key positive psychology interventions available and discuss their merits with an emphasis on practice and evaluation. ilona boniwell and aneta tunariu skilfully combine a breadth of information about positive psychology with reflective questions, critical commentary and up-to-date research. a highly recommended resource for teaching and studying positive psychology. up-to-date, incorporating both the history and the latest developments in this field. very clearly laid out, with key topics and concepts explained well along with practical learning activities for the use in classroom and/or for students' individual learning." vanessa king, mapp (upenn), board member action for happiness

This book provides an accessible and balanced introduction to positive psychology scholarship and its applications, incorporating an overview of the development of positive psychology. positive psychology: the basics delineates positive psychology's journey as a discipline, takes stock of its achievements, and provides an updated overview of its core topics, exploring the theory, research, and interventions in each. launched as a rebellious discipline just over two decades ago, positive psychology challenged the emphasis of applied psychology on disease and dysfunction and offered a new, more balanced perspective on human life. from its foundations in the late 20th century to recent 'second wave' theories around the importance of recognizing negative emotions, this compact overview covers the key ideas and principles, from research around emotional well-being, optimism and change, to posttraumatic growth and positive relationships. the first jargon-free introduction to the subject, hart introduces the reader to range of issues including self-regulation and flow, character strengths and virtues, and positive relationships, concluding with a chapter on how interventions can affect happiness and well-being. positive psychology: the basics is an essential resource for students, practitioners, academics, and anyone who is interested in understanding the essence of a life well lived.

This is a book about brilliance. brilliance in all aspects of our experience as leaders: our relationships, our talent, our performance, our outlook. brilliance that begins with one spark. as a leader, you're always looking for ways to enhance the performance of your team. but as your responsibilities grow, your time and attention become more and more limited. if you've ever wished you could simply clone yourself, this is the book for you. in spark brilliance, executive coach jackie insinger uses her more than two decades of experience to introduce a revolutionary approach to leadership and team dynamics that will transform your team's performance, productivity, and fulfillment. in this book, you'll learn platinum leadership, a positive psychology-driven method that will build authentic connection, spark optimism and creativity, and drive greater results from the people you lead-and for your company. you'll discover: the platinum rule-the secret to extraordinary leadership why psychological safety can make or break your team's performance a tactical risk practice that explodes personal growth how to build an authentic connection culture brilliance starts with you, the leader. create the spark, ignite your team's potential, and watch the fireworks begin.

What really makes us feel glad to be alive? this classic work of psychology from world-renowned psychologist mihaly csikszentmihalyi is your essential guide to unlocking a happier, more fulfilling state of being. '[he] has done more than anyone else to study this state of effortless attending' daniel kahneman, author of thinking, fast and slow 'mr csikszentmihalyi illuminates the accuracy of what philosophers have been saying for centuries: that the way to happiness lies not in mindless hedonism but in mindful challenge' the new york times 'elegantly written … it is more relevant than ever' the times 'enlightening, thought-provoking, relevant' — ***** reader review 'i actually struggled to put it down' — ***** reader review 'it will definitely help me structure and control my mind better' — ***** reader review 'if you are searching to add meaning to your life, or to gain more enjoyment from the life that you have, reading this book is a must' — ***** reader review ********************************************************************************************** control of consciousness determines the quality of life combining over 40 years of ground-breaking research with practical advice, world-renowned psychologist mihaly csikszentmihalyi reveals the key to optimal experience: flow. arguing that the human brain is most happy when engaged in the meaningful pursuit of a goal – anything from sport to learning a language, from enjoyable work to practising music – he demonstrates that the need to concentrate and lose yourself in the moment is the key to finding inner peace, happiness and order in the midst of our chaotic lives.

Do you want "peace of mind" every day? do you want "freedom" from negative thoughts? do you imagine yourself free from any negative thoughts? do you imagine yourself happy, optimistic, and peaceful every day? in this christian book, "the power of positive energy: powerful thinking, powerful life," you will learn the strategies on how your mind can change into a positive-peaceful state. you will know the specific steps on how to make yourself happy, fulfilled, optimistic, calm, and peaceful every day. you will learn the various tools and techniques successful people do every day, such as: – how to really think positively – how to gain confidence and increase self-esteem – the "top secret" morning habits of successful people – how to get motivated in life every day – how to unlock the power of prayer to achieve what you want in life – how forgiveness can catapult you to more blessings in your life – how the benefits of attitude of gratitude can dramatically increase the quality of your life – the characteristics and qualities of highly successful people – how to really live a happy life every single day furthermore, these are the ultimate benefits you will receive from the book: – you will become a positive person every single day – you will become confident and your self-esteem and self-image will be lifted higher – you will have powerful morning habits that will make you more successful – you will always be motivated every single day – your prayers will always be answered by god – you will be able to forgive anyone and that will give you enormous peace of mind – you will always be thankful every single day – you will always have a success mindset – you will always be ultimately happy every single day – you will always experience great peace in your heart every single day praise: "this book has literally helped to change my life! i couldn't be more grateful. i have started developing a daily routine and morning ritual using the wisdom contained in these pages. i really like how the author focuses on character building over just doing the right things. what really matters is your character and your mindset, and this book is helping me become a better man!" – john robertson "at first i thought this book is just about positive thinking. but when i scrolled its pages i realized that this is an entirely different book. this book is indeed amazing and powerful because it talks of ways on how to have a transformed life and mind. the apostle paul in the bible talks about being transformed by the renewing of one's mind and this book will surely guide you into that. ultimately, one can find everlasting love, joy, peace and security by following the steps outlined in this book. this is such a powerful and inspiring book, a life changer and full of vibrant energy. if you're in the state of negativity, helplessness and hopelessness, i very highly recommend this book. two thumbs up!" – henry tupas want to learn more about these things 'all in one place'? get all these wisdom from this amazon's bestselling book "the power of positive energy: powerful thinking, powerful life." get your copy now, by scrolling to the top of the page, and select the orange "buy" button.

Why do some people achieve greater success and happiness than others? the key is positive psychology. for most of its history, psychology has focused mainly on the darker side of human behaviour – depression, anxiety, psychosis and psychopathic behaviour. in 1998, martin seligman became president of the american psychological association and inspired a movement to focus on the positives in human behaviour. positive psychology for dummies: taps into the burgeoning media focus on happiness and positive mental attitude provides key information on the origins, theory, methods, practitioners and results of positive psychology demonstrates how to understand what makes you tick, how to hone positive emotions and how to use positive philosophy for success in both your personal and working lives. is perfect for a wide audience, from those wanting to get more out of their life, to psychology students or counsellors about the author gladeana mcmahon is co-author of performance coaching for dummies. she is regarded as one of the uk’s top ten coaches. averil leimon is co-author of performance coaching for dummies. she is a business psychologist and a leading uk leadership coach.

Why do some people achieve greater success and happiness than others? the key is positive psychology. for most of its history, psychology has focused mainly on the darker side of human behaviour – depression, anxiety, psychosis and psychopathic behaviour. in 1998, martin seligman became president of the american psychological association and inspired a movement to focus on the positives in human behaviour. positive psychology for dummies: taps into the burgeoning media focus on happiness and positive mental attitude provides key information on the origins, theory, methods, practitioners and results of positive psychology demonstrates how to understand what makes you tick, how to hone positive emotions and how to use positive philosophy for success in both your personal and working lives. is perfect for a wide audience, from those wanting to get more out of their life, to psychology students or counsellors about the author gladeana mcmahon is co-author of performance coaching for dummies. she is regarded as one of the uk’s top ten coaches. averil leimon is co-author of performance coaching for dummies. she is a business psychologist and a leading uk leadership coach.

Expanding on her viral post that has become an international phenomenon, a psychotherapist offers simple yet effective solutions for increasing mental strength and finding happiness and success in life. – as a licensed clinical social worker, college psychology instructor, and psychotherapist, amy morin has seen countless people choose to succeed despite facing enormous challenges. that resilience inspired her to write 13 things mentally strong people don't do, a web post that instantly went viral, and was picked up by the forbes website. – morin’s post focused on the concept of mental strength, how mentally strong people avoid negative behaviors—feeling sorry for themselves, resenting other people’s success, and dwelling on the past. instead, they focus on the positive to help them overcome challenges and become their best. – in this inspirational, affirmative book, morin expands upon her original message, providing practical strategies to help readers avoid the thirteen common habits that can hold them back from success. combining compelling anecdotal stories with the latest psychological research, she offers strategies for avoiding destructive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors common to everyone. – like physical strength, mental strength requires healthy habits, exercise, and hard work. morin teaches you how to embrace a happier outlook and arms you to emotionally deal with life’s inevitable hardships, setbacks, and heartbreaks—sharing for the first time her own poignant story of tragedy, and how she summoned the mental strength to move on. as she makes clear, mental strength isn’t about acting tough; it’s about feeling empowered to overcome life's challenges.

An international bestseller with over five million copies in print, the power of positive thinking has helped men and women around the world to achieve fulfillment in their lives through dr. norman vincent peale’s powerful message of faith and inspiration.in this phenomenal bestseller, “written with the sole objective of helping the reader achieve a happy, satisfying, and worthwhile life,” dr. peale demonstrates the power of faith in action. with the practical techniques outlined in this book, you can energize your life—and give yourself the initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes. you’ll learn how to: · believe in yourself and in everything you do · build new power and determination · develop the power to reach your goals · break the worry habit and achieve a relaxed life · improve your personal and professional relationships · assume control over your circumstances · be kind to yourself

Daily inspiration and meditations for positive thinking and living yes, you can change your life by changing your thoughts. in a year of positive thinking, you'll transform your mindset and motivate positive life changes one thought, one day, and one year at a time.from day one, this book teaches you the power of positive thinking through quick and digestible affirmations based in positive psychology, neuroscience, and personal development. spanning one full year, from january to december, these daily meditations guide you towards visualizing and living your best life.a year of positive thinking includes: 365 days of positive thinking with exercises, mantras, and reflections for self-respect, kindness, and love. a flexible structure around the calendar year (january-december) that can be started any time, any day, and any moment that you're ready. inspiration for personal development that draws on positive psychology, neuroscience, and other secular schools of thought for motivating positive thinking. choose to see the good over the bad. choose optimism over pessimism. choose positive over negative thinking with a year of positive thinking.

The oxford handbook of positive psychology is the seminal reference in the field of positive psychology, which continues to transcend the boundaries of academia to capture the imagination of the general public. almost 20 years after the first publication of this groundbreaking reference, this new third edition showcases how positive psychology is thriving in diverse contexts and fields of psychology. consisting of 68 chapters of the most current theory and research, this updated handbook provides an unparalleled cross-disciplinary look at positive psychology from diverse fields and all branches of psychology, including social, clinical, personality, counseling, health, school, and developmental psychology. several new chapters are included which highlight the latest research on positive psychology and neuroscience, as well as growing areas for applications of positive psychology.

National bestseller the father of the new science of positive psychology and author of authentic happiness draws on more than twenty years of clinical research to demonstrate how optimism enchances the quality of life, and how anyone can learn to practice it. offering many simple techniques, dr. seligman explains how to break an "i–give-up" habit, develop a more constructive explanatory style for interpreting your behavior, and experience the benefits of a more positive interior dialogue. these skills can help break up depression, boost your immune system, better develop your potential, and make you happier.. with generous additional advice on how to encourage optimistic behavior at school, at work and in children, learned optimism is both profound and practical-and valuable for every phase of life." vaulted me out of my funk…. so, fellow moderate pessimists, go buy this book." –marian sandmaier, the new york times book review

This brief paperback presents in-depth coverage of the relatively new area of positive psychology. topically organized, it looks at how positive psychology relates to stresses and health within such traditional research areas as developmental, clinical, personality, motivational, social, and behavioral psychology. the text is a perfect supplement for introductory psychology, psychology of adjustment, health psychology, or social psychology courses. it can also be used as a primary text in upper-level courses, such as the psychology of happiness.important notice: media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.