At the request of the participants of my resilience and optimal workshops last weekend, I’m providing a list of recommended books for people who want to learn more about the topics I covered in the workshop. (Schenker Savages, your enthusiastic participation gave me the impetus to provide a proper reading list. Thank you.)
The content of my workshop comes from scientific researches, primarily from the field of positive psychology. The resilience workshop helps you deal with the negative events in your life while optimal performance workshop gives you the tools to create more positive events in your life, whether it is at work or life in general. There are really no shortcuts and it starts with you, by taking accountability for your own thoughts, emotions and actions. Happiness exists in the action you take.
On resilience
1. Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin E. Seligman (學習樂觀 樂觀學習, 遠流)
2. The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life’s Hurdles by Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte
Reivich and Shatte both studied under Martin Seligman and both books teach the same ABCDE tool, except that the approach of Learned Optimism is on how to become more optimistic while The Resilience Factor focuses on using the tool to deal with adversity and negative events.
On becoming happier and achieving greater fulfillment in life
3. Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin Seligman (真實的快樂, 遠流)
4. A Primer in Positive Psychology by Christopher Peterson
Authentic Happiness specifically talks about the three approaches to happiness and their application at work, family, education etc. I recommend reading this book first, then go on to A Primer in Positive Psychology if you are really interested in knowing more about positive psychology. This is in fact a textbook in my master’s program (Master in Applied Positive Psychology) at the University of Pennsylvania. It is arguably the best introduction to positive psychology ever written. It ties all the key issues together in a compelling way. The author, Christopher Peterson, wrote it in a conversational style, so even though it is written for academic purpose, it is fun and easy to read.
On strengths
5. StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
6. Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton (现在，发现你的职业优势，作者: 马库斯·白金汉)
7. Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham (现在，发现你的职业优势 作者: 马库斯·白金汉)
8. Discover Your Sales Strengths by Benson Smith and Tony Rutigliano (发现你的销售优势：作者:史密斯)
Now Discover Your Strengths came out first and the book comes with an access code for you to take Gallup’s online strengths assessment. StrengthsFinder 2.0 came out in 2007 which provides access to the updated version of the strengths assessment. I have not read Discover Your Sales Strengths personally though it comes from the same family of Gallup books on flourishing by doing what you do best. It also provides a code for accessing the assessment.
One final book to recommend is my own book, which is currently only available in Chinese.
9. Start Your Own Ripple Effect (漣漪詞 11個改變人我關係的正向思考)
The book talks about achieving a positive mindset, all based on actual cases of executives I’ve coached in the past. There are 11 chapters covering the following topics: choice, happiness, accountability, know yourself, be authentic, dealing with fear, dealing with problems, self talk, make a difference, be a learner and bring out the best in other people.