Written in a conversational style yet empirically grounded, this book reviews what we know about the science of happiness. It is the first text to closely examine the social psychological processes as well as individualistic approaches that affect happiness. It explores how our social, cultural, and economic environment, the personal choices we make, and our evolutionary heritage shape our happiness. Topics that are inherently interesting to students such as how income and unemployment, marriage, children, and relationships, health, work, religion, economic growth, and personal safety affect happiness, are reviewed. Research from psychology, economics, and sociology is examined providing an interdisciplinary perspective of this fascinating field. Social issues such as income inequality and the effects of advertising, materialism, and competition are also explored. Highlights include: Covers both the socio-structural issues and individual differences that impact our happiness providing the most comprehensive coverage of any text available. Emphasizes a social psychological approach that considers factors such as income, economics, culture, work, materialism, relationships, religion, and more, often ignored in other texts. Relates the material to students’ lives by posing questions throughout the text to further spark interest in the subject matter. Highlights the latest research and the methodologies used to obtain it to help students better understand how to interpret results. Reviews the evidence that shows that happiness can change over time and how to increase it. Examines how positive emotions and how we interpret events impacts our well-being, along with empirically verified interventions and possible societal changes that can improve happiness. Features a chapter on evolutionary psychology that suggests that there are limits to happiness but how it can be enhanced by pursuing behaviors associated with the successes of our ancestors. Intersperses summary paragraphs throughout the chapters to facilitate learning. Provides discussion questions, activities, assignments, and suggested videos, websites, examples, and additional readings in the instructor’s resources to stimulate critical thinking and class discussion. Features web based instructor’s resources including PowerPoints, sample syllabi, lecture tips and suggestions, and more. Intended for as a text upper-division courses in the psychology of happiness or positive psychology or as a supplement in courses in social or health psychology or psychology of adjustment.

For all the interest in emotions in antiquity, there has been little study of positive emotions. This collection aims to redress the balance with eleven studies of emotions like hope, joy, good will, and mercy that show some of the complexity these emotions play in ancient literature and thought.

Celebrate feelings in all their shapes and sizes in this New York Times bestselling picture book from the Growing Hearts series! Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant. In My Heart explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside, with language that is lyrical but also direct to empower readers to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this gorgeously packaged and unique feelings book is sure to become a storytime favorite.

We live in an age when reality TV shows climax in a tearful finale. But feeling sad - genuinely sad - is still taboo. Yet, sadness happens to us all, sometimes in heartbreakingly awful ways. If we don't know how to be sad, it can be isolating for those experiencing it and baffling for those trying to help others through dark times. Today, most of us know intellectually that 'sad' is normal. But we're not always brilliant at allowing for it, in practice. Sadness is going to happen, so we might as well know how to 'do it' right. And it's time to start facing our problems and talking about them. Positive psychology may have become more accepted in mainstream culture, but rates of depression have continued to rise. We're trying so hard to be happy. But studies show that we could all benefit from learning the art of sadness and how to handle it, well. We cannot avoid sadness so we might as well learn to handle it. Helen Russell, while researching two previous books on happiness, found that today most of us are terrified of sadness. Many of us are so phobic to averse to negative emotions that we don't recognise them.

Emotions are an important part of who we are and how we navigate through life. Unfortunately at times, emotions are so powerful that they will often hijack the decision-making process for us during every stage of life, rendering us helplessor so we think. The good news is that there are ways to take back control of the emotions that have been living our lives for us. In a guidebook to understanding emotions and their impact on our lives, IM Joy begins by sharing a story about Rosa, a woman broken in every way after enduring a divorce. After Rosa realizes she is being lived by her negative emotions, she slowly begins transforming her existence by understanding her feelings, releasing them, and then learning how to live differently. As Joy continues with an alphabetically presented emotions reference list, she provides a definition of each emotion followed by the key to either understanding, overcoming, appreciating, or replacing the emotion with a more positive one, offering all of us hope that we too can transform our lives to create a better future. The Joy of Understanding Emotions shares a poignant story and a roadmap of emotions that will help guide anyone to defeat negative emotions by understanding their nature and effect.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A timely and important book that challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations, and culture, from the #1 bestselling author of Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection Don’t miss the five-part Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart! “True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, MSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives—experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging. Brown argues that we’re experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other. She writes, “True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that’s rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it’s easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it’s a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It’s a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.” Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.”

Explains the mathematical properties of universal emotional truths, describing how during a time of personal loss the author developed "emotional equations" as a mechanism for recognizing changeable and unchangeable factors in his healing.

Publisher Description

"The only self-help book you'll ever need, from a psychiatrist who will help you put aside your unrealistic wishes, stop trying to change things you can't change, and do the best with what you can control--the first steps to solving all of life's impossible problems"--

Learn about emotions with The Little Prince Discover emotions with the beloved character from author-illustrator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Joy, fear, anger, surprise...children experience a range of emotions every day, often several at the same time, and they sometimes find it difficult to articulate what they feel. Naming and identifying emotions is a way for little ones to start recognizing these feelings. As they gain self-awareness, children learn to manage their emotions, a critical skill that lays the foundation for emotional intelligence and resilience. The feelings described in this book include joy, surprise, anger, love, fear, sadness, and calm.