Positive Psychology at Work:

Recommended Reading

Strengths

Seligman, M. (2006) Authentic Happiness. London: Nicholas Brealey.

This is an easy read about character strengths and happiness and includes self-report measures on happiness, optimism style and character strengths.

Buckingham, M. and Coffman, C. (2001) First Break All the Rules. New York: Simon & Schuster.

This is the first, and for my money the best, of the Gallup strengths book series. It is a great read and clearly presents the results of their research into what makes a great manager.

Linley, A. (2008) Average to A+: Realizing Strengths in Yourself and Others. Coventry: CAPP Press.

An excellent, readable account of the psychological basis for strengths combined with pragmatic advice for identifying and getting the best from strengths, with lots of real-life examples used to illuminate points being made.

Goals and reinforcement

Sidman, M. (2001) Coercion and its Fallout. Boston, MA: Authors Cooperative.

If you want to understand more about the negative effects of coercive behaviour control, this is the book. Very informed, it is in parts highly readable and in others challengingly technical. This book demands some concentration.

Daniels, A. (2000) Bringing out the Best in People: How to Apply the Astonishing Power of Positive Reinforcement. New York: McGraw-Hill.

A readable and informative book about the technicalities of using goals and positive reinforcement to achieve motivation and high performance. Demands concentration.

Karen, P. (2002) ...