POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY RECOMMENDED READING LIST
Positive Psychology is a vast field highlighting the best of what life has to offer. It was adopted in 1998 in the American Psychological Association as a new field.
Happiness science is one component of the larger field of positive psychology. Happiness increase is a niche within happiness science.
Here is a broad reading list of books for those interested in learning more about the research behind this amazing field. If I have overlooked any essential reading, please let me know so I may add it to the list.
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Easy Reading
HAPPINESS FOR HUMANKIND PLAYBOOK: SUSTAINABLE HAPPINESS IN 5 STEPS (2019) by Aymee Coget
This is quick and easy read to learn how to practice positive psychology to create an upward spiral in your life. It teaches the nuts and bolts of sustainable happiness with precision of timing of each activity. Dr Coget has over 2 decades of experience helping people become happier.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL (2006) by Ilona Boniwell
This is a very quick and easy read if you want to understand the fundamentals of positive psychology at a high level. It is written by a European Associate Professor at HEC Paris, who heads the Masters in Positive Psychology program.
THE HOW OF HAPPINESS: A NEW APPROACH TO GETTING THE LIFE YOU WANT (2007) by Sonja Lyubomirsky
This book highlights specific happiness boosting activities and overall positive psychology written by one of the top happiness increase scientists from University of California, Riverside.
THE MYTHS OF HAPPINESS: WHAT SHOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY, BUT DOESN’T, WHAT SHOULDN’T MAKE YOU HAPPY, BUT DOES (2014) by Sonja Lyubomirsky
A lot of people believe they understand happiness yet actually are off base. This book does a great job explaining and debunking common misunderstands of happiness.
POSITIVITY: TOP-NOTCH RESEARCH REVEALS THE UPWARD SPIRAL THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE (2009) by Barbara Fredrickson
This book highlights the Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions, explaining the research behind the model which builds an upward spiral of life. The author is an award winning scholar and researcher at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
FLOURISH: A VISIONARY NEW UNDERSTANDING OF HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING (2012) by Martin E. P. Seligman
This book describes recent updates in the founder of positive psychology thinking in regard to happiness and well-being. He is at the University of Pennsylvania.
LEARNED OPTIMISM: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE (2006) by Martin E. P. Seligman
Optimism is a skill that must be developed in happiness and this book offers practical tools for how to move from pessimism to optimism. It is written by the founder of positive psychology.
AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS: USING THE NEW POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TO REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL FOR LASTING FULFILLMENT (2004) by Martin E. P. Seligman
One of the first books introducing happiness science and some components of happiness increase written by the founder of Positive Psychology.
FLOW: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPTIMAL EXPERIENCE (2008) by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
This book highlights the research related to the flow state; in which people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. The author is a forefather in positive psychology teaching at Claremont Graduate University and former chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago.
by Amy Blankson and Shawn Achor
Here is a take on happiness from the field, someone who is in the day to day contributions of helping people become happier and the author works with the Harvard Happiness professor.
HAPPIER: LEARN THE SECRETS TO DAILY JOY AND LASTING FULFILLMENT (2007) by Tal Ben-Shahar
This book introduces positive psychology scientific studies, scholarly research, self help techniques and is written by the first happiness professor at Harvard where his class became the most popular class on campus.
Positive Psychology at Work
POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP: FOUNDATIONS OF A NEW DISCIPLINE (2003)
Jane E Dutton (Editor), Robert E Quinn (Editor), Kim Cameron (Editor)
This book was my first introduction to a scholarly understanding of happiness in the workplace from a micro, meso and macro perspective. It is written by a compilation of authors in the field studying facets of positive psychology in organizational settings and released by the top positive business scholars at the University of Michigan.
THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE: THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY THAT FUEL SUCCESS AND PERFORMANCE AT WORK (2010) by Shawn Achor
This book talks about recent research in regard to the workplace. It is written by the current Happiness professor at Harvard.
Academic Reading
OXFORD HANDBOOK OF POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP (2012) by Kim S. Cameron (Editor), Gretchen M. Spreitzer (Editor)
This handbook focuses on using a positive lens to address problems and challenges in organizational life including ethics, economics, peace, spirituality, social movements, and sustainability.
OXFORD HANDBOOK OF HAPPINESS (2013) by Susan David and Ilona Boniwell
This is a comprehensive handbook on ten sections that focus on psychological, philosophical, evolutionary, economic, and spiritual approaches to happiness; happiness in society, education, organizations, and relationships; and the assessment and development of happiness and more. Contributions of all major researchers in positive psychology are included in this book.
OXFORD HANDBOOK OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (2011) by Shane J. Lopez (Editor), C. R. Snyder (Editor)
This is a seminal reference in the field of positive psychology, which in recent years has transcended academia to capture the imagination of the general public. The handbook provides a roadmap for the psychology needed by the majority of the population -- those who don't need treatment but want to achieve the lives to which they aspire.
CHARACTER STRENGTHS AND VIRTUES: A HANDBOOK AND CLASSIFICATION (2004) by Christopher Peterson (Author), Martin Seligman (Author)
This is Positive Psychology’s version of the DSM (Disorder Diagnostic Disorder). Instead of telling people what is wrong about them. This assessment is just as rigorous as traditional psychology. It offers 25 character strengths and each person has a specific order.
Coaching Methodology
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY COACHING: PUTTING THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS TO WORK FOR YOUR CLIENTS (2007) by Robert Biswas-Diener (Author), Ben Dean (Author)
This book provides concrete language and interventions for integrating positive psychology techniques into any mental health practice and one of the authors is the son of one of the father’s of happiness science, the award winning professor Ed Diener, Ph.D.
PRACTICING POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY COACHING: ASSESSMENT, ACTIVITIES, AND STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS (2010) by Robert Biswas-Diener
A comprehensive and practical guide illustrating tools and techniques for coaches and their clients.
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY COACHING: A POSITIVE PROCESS FOR CHANGE (2007) by Sara L. Orem (Author), Jacqueline Binkert (Author), Ann L. Clancy (Author)
This book gives a practical approach to using appreciative inquiry within a coaching framework. Rather than focusing on individuals in limited or problem-oriented ways, Appreciate Coaching guides clients through four stages—Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny—that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future. Appreciative Inquiry is a positive change method founded by David Cooperrider at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio which is used for individuals, groups, and organizations.
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For more information visit www.happinessforhumankind.com