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AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS

USING THE NEW POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TO REALISE YOUR POTENTIAL FOR LASTING FULFILMENT

Martin Seligman

"At last, psychology gets serious about glee, fun and happiness. Martin Seligman has given us a gift - a practical map for the perennial quest for a flourishing life."
Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence

"An amazing book! Absolutely full of practical wisdom and its authentic sources. What depth and width of understanding! Seligman affirms our power of choice with a perspective on old and new psychology I found compelling and fascinating. This book will help restore the Character Ethic."
Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Over a decade ago Martin Seligman charted a new approach to living with "flexible optimism." Now, in his most stimulating and persuasive book to date, the bestselling author of Learned Optimism introduces the revolutionary, scientifically based idea of "Positive Psychology." Positive Psychology focuses on strengths rather than weaknesses, asserting that happiness is not the result of good genes or luck. Seligman teaches readers that happiness can be cultivated by identifying and using many of the strengths and traits that they already possess including kindness, originality, humour, optimism, and generosity. By frequently calling upon their "signature strengths" in all crucial realms of life, readers will not only develop natural buffers against misfortune and the experience of negative emotion, they will move their lives up to a new, more positive plane.

He describes 24 ubiquitous strengths and virtues, with each person owning at least 5 of these "signature strengths" which he or she can identify and develop to their maximum potential. By incorporating these strengths - which include kindness, originality, humour, optimism, curiosity, enthusiasm and generosity - into crucial realms of life moves living up to a new positive plane.

Authentic Happiness provides a variety of tests and unique assessment tools to enable readers to discover and deploy those strengths at work, in love and in raising children. The life-changing lesson of this book is that, by accessing the very best in ourselves, we can improve the world around us and achieve new and lasting levels of authentic contentment and joy.

Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., the Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Positive Psychology Network, gave the Centennial address to the British Psychological Society in 2002 and is an Honourary Professor at the University of Cardiff. A former President of the American Psychological Association, and Founding Editor of Prevention and Treatment, he has written twenty books including the bestselling Learned Optimism.