Authentic Happiness

Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment

By: Martin E.P. Seligman Ph.D.

Narrated by: John Dossett

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 best-selling 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: kindness, originality, humor, optimism, and generosity. By frequently calling upon their "signature strengths" in all the crucial realms of life, listeners 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.

Drawing on groundbreaking psychological research, Seligman shows how Positive Psychology is shifting the profession's paradigm away from its narrow-minded focus on pathology, victimology, and mental illness to positive emotion, virtue and strength, and positive institutions. Our signature strengths can be nurtured throughout our lives, with benefits to our health, relationships, and careers.

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 sustainable levels of authentic contentment, gratification, and meaning.

©2002 Martin Seligman (P)2002 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"A bold new plan for taking control of your life and finding lasting happiness." (Elle)
"This smooth abridgment, read perfectly by John Dossett, will win new respect for the behavioral sciences, which have taken a beating during the recent resurgence of the spiritual disciplines." (AudioFile)

Optimistic

Good clear narration of a classic on ones strengths to overcome depression. Needs a computer to do many of the tests available on Seligman's webpage. A hopeful contribution that can be listened to while driving.

Uninspiring

If you are looking for inspiration, it's not here. I would spend my Audible credits elsewhere.

great Book

understanding what happened it is all about how to achieve more of it and understanding positive emotions.

Great book, missing parts from paper copy though

Would you consider the audio edition of Authentic Happiness to be better than the print version?

No, while the audio version was great, when I referred to the print version I found that the audio version skipped over some print parts. This may be fine for others, but since I needed it for a class, it was important to me.

What other book might you compare Authentic Happiness to and why?

Many of other Seligmans books would be comparable. Its better than a lot of "self-help" books though, since its more psychology based.

Which scene was your favorite?

I didnt really have a favorite scene, as this was non-fiction, but the sections on why positive emotions are beneficial were good.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

The Happiness formula was a part of the book that I will likely remember and apply to my life.

Informative

There is alot of practical info in this book. It is very scholarly and useful. If you are not careful you can be lulled to sleep during the presentation of some awesome theories. However, pound for pound I glad I made the purchase.

Decent

The narrator does a great job. The book has some good points and gets you thinking however the end seems to trail off a bit. I would recommend it.

meh

it's the same mindfulness I've heard before. I was recommended this by a loved one and I listened out of respect. never again.

True happ"y"nesd

I'm a cancer survivor and the intervention for treatment is radical. My minister (Dr. Doug Hammack-author of Rethinking Sex on Amazon) recommend this book. I've listened twice because there's much valuable information about what is true happiness -beyond the physical and material.

This book is helping me through an extremely tough time. I highly recommend everyone to get\listen to the book. Especially pay attention to the part in forgiving.

Science based, everyone can benefit.

How helpful,sound,and practical this is. So very helpful in improving joy of living

Enough good points in there for me

This book has several good exercises and observations, which I incorporated into my daily practice. One of the disadvantages is that the segments are about an hour long each and it's really hard (at least on a Blackberry) to go back and find specific locations. Many of the concepts are worth re-hearing. I got another self-help in audiobook and both are good but a bit hard to use in audio format.