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What You Will Learn
What is Positive Psychology?
Wikipedia positive psychology page.
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What (and Why) is Positive Psychology, an overview paper by psychologists Shelly Gable and Jonathan Haidt.
Positive Psychology Books
1. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom – The book which introduced me to positive psychology.
2. Stumbling on Happiness – What are cognitive biases and what is their relevance to happiness and well-being?
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Wikipedia book summary.
3. The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn't, What Shouldn't Make You Happy, but Does – Debunks a number of happiness myths.
A summary of hedonic adaptation.
4. Flourish – Written by field founder Martin Seligman, introduces recent research as well as the new PERMA model of well-being.
New York Times piece introducing PERMA.
Related Books
The Time Paradox – The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life – The subtitle is a bit of an exaggeration, but the book provides an entertaining and informative overview of a different approach to happiness.
The First 20 Minutes – An overview of recent exercise science. Why is this on the list? Because exercise is one of the most effective methods of increasing well-being.
Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind – Best book on self-compassion, another effective method of increasing well-being.
Thanks!: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier – The best book on gratitude, perhaps the most effective method of increasing well-being.
The Happiness Project – An inspiring story of someone actually implementing positive psychology advice.
Willpower: Rediscovering The Greatest Human Strength – What good is advice if you don't implement it?
Search Inside Yourself – Not the most accurate or scientific introduction to meditation, but certainly the most inspiring.
A Guide to the Good Life – The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy – I recommend this book for its section on negative visualization, perhaps the most powerful gratitude exercise. Also describes an alternative approach to happiness.
Blogs
The Psychology of Well-Being
Positive Psychology News Daily
Motivational Memo
The Happiness Project
The Positivity Blog
Marc and Angel Hack Life
Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life
Bounce
Reference Books
The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology
Well-Being: Foundations of Hedonic Psychology
Designing Positive Psychology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward
Research
Cognitive Biases – Thinking Fast and Slow, the best book on the subject. LessWrong, a deeper look at rationality.
Gratitude – Research studies here, research studies and overviews here.
Grit – Research studies here, research summary here.
Sel-Compassion – Research here, research summary here.
Self-Regulation – Research here and here.
Social Anxiety & Character Strengths – Research here, VIA Institute on Character here.
Time Perspective –
Losada Ratio – Research and summary here.
Contact me if you need help getting research papers.
I am a psychologist practicing in New York City and recently wrote a children’s book that I thought might be of interest as a resource to the happier human. The book – We All Live on This Planet Together- is based upon principles of positive psychology. It is about coping with fears by looking to our inner strengths and the beauty in the world. You can learn more about the book from the link below.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Best,
June Rousso, Ph.D.