Authentic Happiness
by Martin E. P. Seligman
Seligman's earlier popular book: signature strengths, the pleasant, good and meaningful life, and exercises to raise lasting happiness. It introduced many readers to positive psychology and remains a readable primer, though the author later revised the framework. Read Flourish for the update; read this for the strengths work.
Read it if…
you want to identify your character strengths and use them deliberately.
Skip it if…
you want the current theory; this has been superseded in parts.
Three things you will actually use
- Know your signature strengths.
- Use them in work, love and play.
- Pursue engagement and meaning, not just pleasure.
Do this first
Take the free strengths survey the book references and use your top strength in a new way this week.
Our verdict
A readable primer; partly superseded, still useful for strengths.
Compare with other Gratitude books
Stumbling on Happiness
Daniel Gilbert · Gratitude
Witty and smart; the best book on why we are bad at predicting happiness.
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The How of Happiness
Sonja Lyubomirsky · Gratitude
Practical and grounded; a program, not a pep talk.
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Happier
Tal Ben-Shahar · Gratitude
Clear and gentle; a good first positive psychology book.
CLICK TO SEEBrowse all Gratitude book reviews or get the free Reality Code Cheat Sheet.
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