Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi · Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The psychologist's account of flow, total absorption in a task that stretches skill to its limit, built on decades of experience-sampling research. Explains the conditions that produce it and how to structure work, hobbies and attention to enter it more often.
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More resources on Positive Psychology
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl's account of surviving Auschwitz and other Nazi camps, followed by an outline of logotherapy, his psychotherapy built on the search for meaning. Readers understand his argument that people can find purpose through work, love and the attitude taken toward unavoidable suffering.
Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health
University of Sydney course on Coursera presenting positive psychiatry, which pairs treating mental illness with building strengths and wellbeing. It surveys major mental disorders, their causes and treatments, medication and psychotherapy, and evidence-based self-help strategies such as exercise, relaxation and social connection.
PositivePsychology.com
Research-referenced articles, exercises and downloadable worksheets on well-being, happiness, resilience, strengths, gratitude, mindfulness and self-compassion. Readers learn the main findings of positive psychology and practical exercises for applying them to themselves or with clients.
greatergood.berkeley.edu
From UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, this site offers science-based articles, videos, podcasts, quizzes, and practical guides on social and emotional well-being. It covers empathy, compassion, mindfulness, resilience, and emotional intelligence with actionable tips for daily life.
ppc.sas.upenn.edu
Official site of UPenn's Positive Psychology Center, showcasing research on well-being, happiness, and character strengths, and offering resources, training programs, events, publications, and practical tools for educators, researchers, and practitioners.
The Power of Vulnerability
Researcher Brene Brown reports on six years of qualitative work on shame and connection, arguing that people who feel worthy of belonging are those willing to be vulnerable. Viewers get a research account, not a set of techniques.