Books Positive Psychology: The Basics by Rona Hart (Author)

"Positive Psychology: The Basics" by Dr. Rona Hart offers an accessible introduction to the field, tracing its evolution from a 1998 "rebellious" shift toward studying strengths, happiness, and flourishing rather than just pathology. As a senior lecturer in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London (formerly), Hart covers core topics like wellbeing models, positive emotions, optimism, flow, character strengths, resilience, and interventions, blending theory, research, and practical applications across 13 chapters.​

Key Topics

The book distinguishes hedonic (pleasure-focused) from eudaimonic (meaning-driven) wellbeing, explores Barbara Fredrickson's Broaden-and-Build Theory for positive emotions, and reviews tools like VIA character strengths for personal growth. It addresses goal pursuit, self-regulation, positive relationships, and posttraumatic growth, emphasizing evidence-based exercises to boost life satisfaction.