16 books of Positive Psychology essential

April 24, 2024

Positive psychology is a psychological approach that, since the 90s, focuses on providing scientifically based knowledge about happiness, psychological well-being and the creative and transforming potential of human beings.

What is Positive Psychology?

In other words, addresses issues that until recently were ignored by the bulk of psychology , more concerned with the study of mental disorders and anomalous and harmful behavior patterns.

Authors like Martin E. P. Seligman or Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi they have been promoting the study of happiness and the positive characteristics of the human psyche for years, and the knowledge generated by this branch of research has turned to a large amount of informative content, among which it is often difficult to choose. These are books inspired by the humanist philosophy that characterized psychologists such as Carl Rogers or Abraham Maslow, although with a much greater scientific basis.

The best Positive Psychology books

The potential of positive positive psychology is evident: is supported by research that can help us to be closer to what we know as happiness . However, it is often difficult to choose among all available psychology degrees. That is why we have created this selection of books.

Below you can see a selection of the most outstanding and revealing positive psychology books , those that are most useful when it comes to understanding this aspect of behavioral science and mental processes, and that also serve to apply some concrete measures to our day to day.

The vast majority, moreover, They are books on positive psychology in Spanish, as well as being very accessible and easy to read .

1. "A turtle, a hare and a mosquito", by Nacho Coller

A fun book with which to understand the fundamentals of the psychology of everyday life. The art of avoiding unnecessary dramas and knowing how to surround ourselves with what helps make us happy is both simple and complicated, and that's why it never hurts that a work like this allows us to learn the essentials in this aspect. Through a mixture of dissemination, storytelling and personal reflections, Nacho Coller is delineating a healthy philosophy of life that leads us to admit that we are not perfect and we do not have to pretend to be installed in the impossible of constant happiness.

To access more information about this book or get a copy, click here.

2. «Flow (flow): a psychology of happiness», by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is known for his research on the "state of flow", that is, a state in which we feel we are experiencing things optimally, keeping all our concentration on them and noticing a feeling of well-being and creative potential difficult to express in words; all without consuming any type of substances.

In this book, the author explains some keys about the nature of this state, and how to get to provoke it .

If you're interested, you can get it here.

3. "Authentic happiness" by Martin E. P. Seligman

Seligman He has been one of the references of positive psychology, so by force he should have a lot to say about happiness. In this book they review several of the investigations that have helped to give body to what is meant by happiness from positive psychology.

You can get this book by clicking here.

4. «The science of well-being: foundations of a positive psychology», by Carmelo Vázquez and Gonzalo Hervás

This is the ideal book for those who seek a more academic approach to the subject of positive psychology . It is a somewhat less light reading than the rest of positive psychology books that are presented here, but at the same time it is more complete.

If you want to buy it, you can do it here.

5. "Intelligent optimism: psychology of positive emotions" (Various authors)

One of the most recommended books to learn to what extent emotional states are associated with different ways of seeing life (and how to make this play in our favor). The authors are Mª Dolores Avia Aranda Y Carmelo Vázquez Valverde .

You can get this book here.

6. «Overcoming adversity: the power of resilience», by Luis Rojas Marcos

This is one of the positive psychology books that deals with the issue of resilience, very much treated from this psychological approach. In its pages, explains what this ability to overcome the toughest adversities consists of without letting pain and sadness take control of our actions.

If you are interested, you can buy it here.

7. «Flow in business», by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Another one of the most outstanding positive psychology books of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi . In this case, the author applies his conclusions about the state of flow to apply it to the business world, where this experience in which motivation and creativity are mixed can be an important productive engine when working.

You can buy this book here.

8. "Is your bucket full? Strategies to enhance your positive emotions ", by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton

A quick read to learn some of the basics about how emotional states are produced that we usually enjoy and how to take advantage of this knowledge in different areas of life: both at work and in personal relationships.

You want to buy it? You can get it here.

9. «Positive Psychology: the scientific and practical explorations of human strengths» (Various authors)

An excellent way to get in touch with positive psychology for the first time through comprehensive and exhaustive explanations. This book, which at the moment is not translated into Spanish, is written by Charles Richard Snyder , Shane J. López Y Jennifer T. Pedrotti .

10. «The science of happiness», by Sonja Lyubomirsky

One of the positive psychology books with a more practical approach , with measures that can be included among day-to-day habits. It is a wellness program based on scientific evidence.

If you're interested, you can buy the book here.

11. "The uselessness of suffering", by María Jesús Álava Reyes

The Spanish psychologist María Jesús Álava Reyes In this book he details some of the keys to understanding what the humanist philosophy behind positive psychology is. It includes practical content that can be applied to day to day.

You can get the book on this link.

12. "The Life that Blooms," by Martin E. P. Seligman

In this book, the father of positive psychology updates his conception of what wellness is and brings new ways of understanding human emotions. One of the most popular positive psychology books.

If you want it, you can click here.

13. "Psychologically Speaking" (Adrián Triglia, Bertrand Regader and Jonathan García-Allen)

To understand the logic behind positive thinking and the power that mentality changes have, there is nothing like knowing the fundamentals of psychology. In this short book, written by the founders of Psychology and Mind, you can find all the fundamental knowledge on which the fascinating science of the human mind stands.

If you are interested, you can find out about this work by clicking on this link.

14. "The Trap of Happiness" by Russ Harris

A book that seems to go against the grain of most positive psychology books; Maybe that's why it's so unique. One of the main ideas that the author develops in this work is that, many times, what keeps us away from happiness is our own effort to get closer to this. Through the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy , Russ Harris presents us with simple strategies and exercises with which we can learn to let ourselves be carried away by the flow of life and accept it with all its imperfections.

Are you curious? To read more about this book, click on this link.

15. "The Habits of a Happy Brain" by Loretta Graziano

What is behind all those psychological processes that constitute happiness? In this excellent book you can learn what is the logic that guides the appearance of those moments of euphoria and psychological well-being that invade us from time to time, what the chemistry of the brain that produces them and why we experience this kind of experiences just like we make.

If you want to know more about this title, click on this link.

16. "Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness" by Alan Carr

One of the positive psychology books that emphasize the need to offer a global vision about this branch of the science of behavior and mental processes. An introductory and dissemination work conceived for people with an interest not only to learn practical strategies and tricks, but also to understand how progress is made in this field and what is the history of this discipline.