Customer Reviews

Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
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I recently used this textbook in teaching an undergraduate course in positive psychology. The authors are able to cover a range of topics in a manner that is both accessible and understandable. Use of the personal mini-experiments added a reflective component that is often missing in many undergraduate level courses. Feedback from the class on the choice of text was very positive with many students commenting on how enjoyable it was to read. I will be teaching this course again next year and will definitely use this book again.

Overall, the book is well organized and written in a language that is accessible to students at a range of levels.

This is a marvelous textbook, much needed both by teachers and by anyone who wants a comprehensive resource to this major new direction in contemporary psychology. As a member of both clubs I recommend this book enthusiastically.

Positive Psychology has been growing so rapidly, this is one of the very first textbooks to be published. Rick Snyder and Shane Lopez clearly know their stuff - they've edited two major recent volumes, one from Oxford Press, the other from the American Psychological Assoc. Nevertheless, these serious academics have avoided the classic pitfalls of textbook writing. Their book shines with personality and pizzazz. It's rare to encounter a text that combines practicality (covering all the bases, answering most, if not all, the questions) with real imagination. The authors write from their personal experience; they avoid the dull and the safe. It feels often as if they're talking directly to you, taking you into their confidence, sharing their insights, their doubts, and most importantly what's mattered most to them as people. This is a rare feat: great teaching delivered on the printed page.

Other aspects of their book that add enormous value are that it's chock-a-block with personal mini-experiments. In each, the authors take the intellectual content and re-shape it into an experience for the student. Their exercises are carefully designed to ensure that an idea doesn't remain just a cognitive pipedream but is transmuted into lived wisdom. The publisher provides you with a CD that's crammed with discussion guides, study guides, and tests. The graphics are fun; there are lots of pictures and good, punchy charts. On top of that, the text is inter-woven with sidebar articles by experts in the field and by others with first hand experience. These are brief and always relevant. The authors' experience as editors of large compilation volumes really shows. One feels as if one's gotten a far richer spectrum than just one book.

All in all, this is must-have for anyone who's interested in the human need for happiness, engagement and meaning.

The book came in within two days, which was nice since I needed the book for school. The book came in the condition as it was described. If anything the book was better than what was described. Thanks for the business! =)

The authors cannot explain any concept without using endless sentences infused with poly-syllabic words drawn from unfamiliar academic terminology. This book uses a great many words to convey simple ideas.