Positive Psychology, well-being and happiness:
The Happiness Equation
100 Factors that can add to or subtract from your happiness
Psychology has traditionally concerned itself with malfunctioning human emotions such as anger and depression. In the last decade, however, the focus has begun to shift: the emergence of ‘positive psychology’ and the science of happiness hold out the hope that we might be able to improve the lives of millions of ordinary people if we are able to understand the sources of their happiness. Progress has been rapid, and science is already beginning to unravel the secrets of a contented life.
The Happiness Equation is a distillation of the latest research into well-being and a guide to the tools and strategies most likely to make you happy. Part self-development book, part psychology primer, it features 100 pieces of advice on what will and will not lead to a life of contentment. The information it presents is scientifically rigorous, often startling but never preachy.
- Interactive, ‘plus’ or ‘minus’ showing how each entry will add to, or detract from, your happiness quotient
- Psychological and scientific facts presented in an accessible, practical way with the full colour illustrations, charts and diagrams
- Written by leading experts on the psychology of happiness
About the Authors
Bridget Grenville-Cleave MBA FCCA has completed the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London, the first of its kind in Europe. She is a Charter Member of the International Positive Psychology Association, specialising in applying positive psychology to improve organisational performance. She also writes for the online journal, Positive Psychology News Daily.
Dr Ilona Boniwell is a Senior Lecturer in Positive Psychology at the University of East London. She founded and was the first Chair of the European Network of Positive Psychology. Dr Boniwell acted as the main consultant for the BBC2 series The Happiness Formula and is the author of Positive Psychology in a Nutshell.
“A friend gave me this book as a present and I really enjoyed it. Indeed,enough to buy several copies for friends this Christmas! I think its a perfect stocking filler gift as it makes a fun and easy-to-digest read. It’s a great read for anyone who likes to indulge in those personality questionnaires in magazines. If you are someone who is interested in a simple synopsis of the many factors that research has proved to make us happy, you will be in for some interesting surprises!”
Social Networking, Business and Positive Psychology:
The Facebook Manager
About the Authors
Bridget Grenville-Cleave MBA FCCA has completed the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London, the first of its kind in Europe. She is a Charter Member of the International Positive Psychology Association, specialising in applying positive psychology to improve organisational performance. She also writes for the online journal, Positive Psychology News Daily.
“Don’t be taken in by the title – this covers a broad spectrum of social networking tools including LinkedIn. There’s lots of useful tips on how to present and position You to the best effect. The power of this book is about making you think about you and your brand, why you want to use the various sites and what you want to get from doing this.
What I found especially useful (as a largely passive LinkedIn user, with a casually expanding collection of contacts and group memberships) was to open up the opportunities (some as simple as posting or answering a question) to move me, from just being another on-line CV, to thinking about my purpose and goals for being on-line and then building marketing strategies to achieve these.
What really makes the difference and positions The facebook Manager, from just being another “How to” book, is the psychological insights to behaviours and motivations and the positive and negative reactions to these of networking on-line.
Also enjoyable is the wry sense of humour the sneaks in when you are not expecting it. Nothing dry and academic about this! “
- Fredrickson, B. (2009). Positivity
- Czikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). Flow. London. Random House.
- Peterson, C. & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Oxford. Oxford University Press.
- Lopez, S.J. & Snyder, C.R. (Eds). (2006). Positive psychological assessment. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.
- Ong, A.D. & Van Dulmen, M.H.M. (2007). Oxford handbook of methods in positive psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Aspinwall, L.G. & Staudinger, U.M. (2003). A psychology of human strengths: Fundamental questions and future directions for a positive psychology. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.
- Snyder, C.R. & Lopez, S.J. (Eds). (2007). Positive psychology: the scientific and practical explorations of human strengths. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

2 Day Introduction to the Science of Strengths, Happiness and Well-being: 23/24 Sept 2010 Bristol