Publications

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It offers a superb developmental and contextual approach to integrative well-being. Moreover, it is a wonderful contribution to our holistic understanding of personal, interpersonal, occupational, communal, and environmental wellness. An amazing group of authors tackle contemporary issues that go beyond individual pursuits of happiness. By combining evidence with values and pragmatism, this book offers hope and actionable steps. This volume is destined to become a classic in the emerging field of integrative well-being. With great clarity and beautiful writing, the authors encourage us to align our values with our actions. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the well-being of present and future generations. This is a much needed corrective to efforts to define and increase well-being in individualistic ways. The value-based nature of the treatise reminds us that there cannot be wellness without fairness.

Isaac Prilleltensky, Professor, Vice Provost for Institutional Culture, Dean Emeritus, School of Education and Human Development, Erwin and Barbara Mautner Chair in Community Well-Being University of Miami

This book is for our times and has my wholehearted recommendation. It channels our collective yearning for a better world into evidence-based actions. In weaving together the latest well-being science with accessible stories of hope, it offers a blueprint of what works to create flourishing lives and communities. Let it inspire us all to create a better, fairer, and more sustainable world.

Barbara L. Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0
Kenan Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

A useful and timely guide to a positive psychology that focuses on ‘our’ well-being rather than on ‘my’ well-being.

Howard Gardner, Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education Harvard Graduate School of Education

Creating the World We Want to Live In is a book that aims high, and quite rightly so. The authors are all highly acclaimed experts in positive psychology who work, write and live with passion and purpose. Each brings years of wisdom to this shared undertaking, to envisage a better more equitable world for us all. There are an enormous number of books that aim to help individual wellbeing; this book takes a broader, more collective perspective. As such it presents a clear call to improve the wellbeing of the world.

Helen Street, The Positive Schools Initiative, Honorary Fellow, The University of Western Australia.

Live Happy

2019, Modern Books. Bridget Grenville-Cleave & Dr Ilona Boniwell.

The new edition of our book has just been issued – it’s beautifully designed inside and out.

From the back cover: ‘While happiness is in part genetically determined, a large proportion of our chances for happiness lies within our control. Part self-help book, part psychology primer, Live Happy will inform your attitudes and inspire a positive outlook. Written by two leading positive psychologists and harnessing the latest research, this affirmative guide features 100 piece of proven advice to help you take charge of your life choices and find fulfilment’

Positive Psychology in Sport and Physical Activity

Edited by Abbe Brady & Bridget Grenville-Cleave.

Abbe Brady is Head of Department: Psychology and Pedagogic Science and Programme Director of Sports Coaching at St Mary’s University, London. She specialises in high performance athlete well-being.

From the back cover: ‘Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology, regrets that the discipline has often omitted the study of what he calls ‘the neck down’. This is no longer the case. The first of its kind, this volume brings together the field of positive psychology with that of sport and physical activity showing how far they are more than just physical experiences. Going well beyond constructing an excellent research argument, this book offers a great selection of real-life case studies, practical interventions and research ideas. A must for everyone who thinks that we cannot separate the study of the mind from the study of the body and believes that flourishing is a multi-dimensional phenomenon’ 

Dr Ilona Boniwell, Head of the International MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, Anglia Ruskin University, UK

With expert contributors from around the globe, real-life case studies, practical strategies and suggestions for future research in every chapter, this book is inspirational reading for all students, coaches, researchers and practitioners with an interest in sport and exercise in sport and exercise psychology, mental health and well-being.

Contributors include: Professors Robert Vallerand, Tim Lomas, Scott Bradley, Piers Worth, Lung Hung Chen, Stehanie Hanrahan, Arabella Ashfield, Paul McCarthy, Liam McCarthy, Richard Light, John Yeager, Kathryn Britton, Robin Vealey and Rudy Alleyne.

Achieving Lasting Happiness

2018, Bridget Grenville-Cleave

From the back cover: ‘With expert encouragement and guidance, you will set out your own positive psychology experiment to discover your strengths, overcome negative attitudes, focus on what gives you purpose, and take control of your life choices. From savouring positive emotions to building better relationships and developing resilience, you will gain the tools to boost your physical and mental well-being and to find fulfilment in everyday life. This is the perfect start to making your life better.’

101 Activities for Happiness Workshops

2014. Emeritus Professor Tom Bourner, Bridget Grenville Cleave and Dr Asher Rospigilosi

From the back cover: ‘This is a great resource for anyone who currently leads or runs groups in schools, the community or in the workplace – or who plans to. Everything you need to design a whole workshop from scratch is here, along with a wealth of ideas and inspiration’

Vanessa King, MAPP, Positive Psychology Lead and Board Member Action for Happiness

‘A wonderful book. I’ve already spotted some great ideas I’ve never tried before!’ 

Dr Mark Williamson, Director Action for Happiness

‘Probably the most useful book in positive psychology I’ve seen in years. The theory and research are spot-on and if you are wondering how to put it all into practice you could do no better than to rush out and buy this book’. 

Dr Ilona Boniwell, L’Ecole Centrale Paris, and Senior Research Fellow, University of East London

‘This book is a cornucopia of ideas for running happiness workshops. This is something for everyone whatever your facilitator style’. 

Sue O’Hara, Principal Lecturer Management and Organisational Development, University of Brighton

Introducing Positive Psychology: A Practical Guide

2012. Bridget Grenville-Cleave.

Based on the most up-to-date research, theories and science and covering over 20 of the key concepts within Positive Psychology in a clear, concise and easy-to-read style, this book gives you proven techniques to improve your well-being and put you on the path to a flourishing,  happy life.

Introducing Positive Psychology is a pocket-sized book packed with real-life examples, tips and exercises which are practical, fun and fast. Use them to coach yourself and others to greater happiness. Whether you want to develop your resilience, improve your motivation, become more optimistic or enjoy greater positivity, this book shows you how to make those small changes in your life which will make a difference, leaving you happier, more confident and more fulfilled.

‘The best “how to” of positive psychology that I have come across. To the point, easy to read, funny, yet highly intelligent, this book will be the one-stop shop for all positive psychology derived solutions for years to come.’ 

Dr Ilona Boniwell, Programme Leader, Masters in Applied Positive Psychology, University of East London

‘Excellent – I couldn’t put it down … It is said that “good things come in small packages” and this is unequivocally demonstrated by ‘Positive Psychology: A Practical Guide’! It covers all the essential elements of positive psychology in practice, striking an excellent balance between an academic research evidence base and how to apply the techniques across a wide range of day-to-day situations. It is an easy to read, engaging, thought-provoking and comprehensive book which makes it an essential component of anyone’s well being and happiness toolkit!’ 

Susan Williamson, Senior Lecturer in Psychology & Programme Leader for MSc in Business Psychology, University of Wales.

‘A very accessible, practical and comprehensive guide to positive psychology. Wonderfully straightforward while being hugely informative. Her expertise and knowledge of the subject shines through…this is a book that will be of great value to anyone who wants to know more about how to improve their life skills and develop their wellbeing and happiness.’

Charlotte Style, author of Brilliant Positive Psychology

You can order Positive Psychology – A Practical Guide on Amazon in paperback format or as a Kindle edition. Please visit to ‘like’ the book and if you have already read it, to write a review.

Read the publisher’s press release for Positive Psychology – A Practical Guide.

Here’s the complete Reference Section for Positive Psychology – A Practical Guide.