Authentic Happiness

US: Simon & Schuster Australia, 2002. Hardback. Good. Over a decade ago, Martin Seligman charted a new approach to living with "f lexible 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 foc uses on strengths rather than weaknesses, asserting that happiness is not t he result of good genes or luck. Seligman teaches readers that happiness ca n be cultivated by identifying and using many of the strengths and traits t hat they already possess -- including kindness, originality, humor, optimis m, and generosity. By frequently calling upon their "signature strengths" i n all the crucial realms of life, readers will not only develop natural buf fers against misfortune and the experience of negative emotion, they will m ove their lives up to a new, more positive plane. Drawing on groundbreaking psychological research, Seligman shows how Positi ve Psychology is shifting the profession's paradigm away from its narrow-mi nded focus on pathology, victimology, and mental illness to positive emotio n, virtue and strength, and positive institutions. Our signature strengths can be nurtured throughout our lives, with benefits to our health, relation ships, and careers. Seligman provides the Signature Strengths Survey along with a variety of brief tests that can be used to measure how much positive emotion readers experience, in order to help determine what their highest strengths are. The life-changing lesson of Authentic Happiness is that by identifying the very best in ourselves, we can improve the world around us and achieve new and sust.