Positive Psychology Reading List

Why Positive Psychology?

Traditional psychology used the western medical model, but applied to the mind - to look for “problems” and fix them. But much like we’re seeing in the physical body; the absence of a problem is not the same thing as the presence of thriving.

Positive Psychology is the study of what is means to thrive and flourish as a human being. What’s a good life look like? How to you build it? Is it different for different people? (that answer is yes, btw) What factors influence those differences and how can we account for them? How do we help people build all that?

Where to Start

In the early days of Positive Psychology quite a few books came out to announce the filed to the world. Here are few to get you started.

Deeper Dives

If you’re already into Positive Psychology, or you’re familiar with the work, these can take you deeper into your understanding and practice:

At the Edges; but Super Relevant

Want something newer? On the fringes of what we think of as “positive psychology”? Here’s the reading list for you:

About to (or just did) Come Out

And here are some very new books, hot off the presses: