Recommended Readings for the Existential Positive Psychology (2.0) of Flourishing Through Suffering*

*This list is far from being exhaustive. Here, I only included those publications that have played an important role in my development of existential positive psychology and my own publications on this subject matter. I welcome suggestions of additional publications important for this emerging field.

  1.  Antonovsky, A. (1987). Unraveling the mystery of health: How people manage stress and stay well. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
  2. Badhwar, N. K. (2014). Well-Being: Happiness in a worthwhile life. Oxford University Press.
  3. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
  4. Batthyány A. & Russo-Netzer, P. (Eds.). (2014). Meaning in positive and existential psychology. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
  5. Camus, A. (1942/1991). The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays (J. O’Brien Trans). Vintage. Books.
  6. Camus, A. (1947/2020). The Plague (S. Gilbert, Trans.). Mercy House.
  7. Delle Fave, A., Brdar, I., Wissing, M. P., Araujo, U., Solano, A. C., Freire, T., Hernández-Pozo, M. D. R., Jose, P., Martos, T., Nafstad, H. E., Nakamura, J., Singh, K. & Soosai-Nathan, L. (2016). Lay definitions of happiness across nations: The primacy of inner harmony and relational connectedness. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(3), https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00030
  8. Emmons, R. A. (2003). Gratitude Works: A 21-Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity. Spirituality and Practice. Retrieved from https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/excerpts/view/24818?fbclid=IwAR0KjiV7uvMLAAgSO8Fk-3Q0yn5FoPKEV9K3ofP9BBdK29IL8SRD1ybZ5eA
  9. Emmons, R. A. (2003). The psychology of ultimate concern. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
  10. Erikson, E. H., & Erikson, J. M. (1998). The Life Cycle Completed: Extended Version. New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
  11. Fowers, B. J., Richardson, F. C., & Slife, B. D. (2017). Frailty, suffering, and vice: Flourishing in the face of human limitations. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  12. Frankl, V. E. (1985). Man’s search for meaning. New York, NY: Washington Square Press.
  13. Frankl, V. (1949/1986). The doctor and the soul: From psychotherapy to logotherapy. New York: Second Vintage Books.
  14. Frankl, V. E. (1988). The Will To Meaning. New York, NY: Penguin Group.
  15. Gruber, J., Mauss, I. B., & Tamir, M. (2011). A dark side of happiness? How, when, and why happiness is not always good. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(3), 222-233. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691611406927
  16. Gruber, J. & Moskowitz, J. T. (Eds.). (2014). Positive emotion: Integrating the Light sides and Dark sides. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  17. Haybron, D. M, (2010). The pursuit of unhappiness. Oxford University Press.
  18. Haybron, D. M. (2013). Happiness: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
  19. Hall, M. E. L., Langer, R., & Mcmartin, J. (2010). The Role of Suffering in Human Flourishing: Contributions from Positive Psychology, Theology, and Philosophy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 38(2), 111-121. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164711003800204
  20. Hicks, J. A. & Routledge, C. (Eds.). (2013). The Experience of Meaning in Life: Classical Perspectives, Emerging Themes, and Controversies. New York, NY: Springer.
  21. Hoffman, L., Yang, M., & Kaklauskas, F. J. (2009). Existential Psychology East-West. Colorado School of Professional.
  22. Jung, C. G. (1933). Modern man in search of a soul. New York: Harcourt.
  23. Jung, C. G. (1957/2006). The undiscovered self: the dilemma of the individual in modern society. Berkley.
  24. Kaufman, S. B., Yaden. D. B., Hyde, E., & Tsukayama, E. (2019). The Light vs. Dark Triad of Personality: Contrasting Two Very Different Profiles of Human Nature. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 467. 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00467
  25. Kaufman, S. B. (2020). Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization. Tarcher Perigee.
  26. Kashdan, T. & Biswas-Diener, R. (2015). The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self–Not Just Your “Good” Self–Drives Success and Fulfillment. Plume.
  27. Kashdan, T., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2015). The Power of Negative Emotion. London, UK: Oneworld Publications.
  28. Maddi, S. R. (2012). Hardiness: Turning Stressful Circumstances into Resilient Growth. Springer.
  29. Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346
  30. Maslow, A. H. (1971). The Farther Reaches of Human Nature. New York, NY: Viking Press.
  31. May, R. (Ed.). (1969). Existential Psychology (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill College.
  32. May, R. (2009). Man’s search for himself. WW Norton.
  33. May, R. (1994). The courage to create. WW Norton.
  34. Mayer, C. H., & Vanderheiden, E. (2019). The Bright side of Shame: Transforming and Growing through practical applications in cultural contexts. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
  35. Metz, T. (2013). Meaning in life. Oxford University Press.
  36. Neimeyer, R. A. (2006). Lessons of Loss: A Guide to Coping. New York, NY: Routledge.
  37. Peck, S. M. (1983). People of the lie: The hope for healing human evil people of the lie. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
  38. Peck, M. S. (1978/2012). The Road Less Travelled. London: Rider.
  39. Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. New York: Oxford University Press/Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  40. Peterson, J. B. (2018). 12 Rules for Life: An antidote to chaos. Toronto, ON: Vintage Canada.
  41. Peacock, E. J., & Wong, P. T. P. (1990). The Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM): A multidimensional approach to cognitive appraisal. Stress Medicine, 6(3), 227–236. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2460060308
  42. Reker, G. T., & Wong, P. T. P. (1988). Aging as an individual process: Toward a theory of personal meaning. In J. E. Birren, & V. L. Bengston (Eds.), Emergent theories of aging (pp. 214-246). New York, NY: Springer.
  43. Rogers, C. (1951). Client-centered therapy: Its current practice, implications and theory. London: Constable.
  44. Rogers, C. R. (1961). On Becoming a person: A psychotherapists view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
  45. Routledge, C. (2018). Supernatural: Death, Meaning, and the Power of the Invisible World. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  46. Ryan, R. M., Legate, N., Niemiec, C. P., & Deci, E. L. (2012). Beyond illusions and defense: Exploring the possibilities and limits of human autonomy and responsibility through self-determination theory. In P. R. Shaver & M. Mikulincer (Eds.), Meaning, mortality, and choice: The social psychology of existential concerns (p. 215–233). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/13748-012
  47. Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
  48. Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83, 10-28. doi:10.1159/000353263
  49. Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 9(1), 13–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0
  50. Russo-Netzer, P., Schulenberg S. E., & Batthyány A. (Eds.). (2016). Clinical perspectives on meaning: Positive and existential psychotherapy. New York, NY: Springer.
  51. Sartre, J.-P. (1989). No exit and three other plays (S. Gilbert Trans.). Vintage.
  52. Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1985). Optimism, coping, and health – Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4(3), 219–247.
  53. Schneider, K. J. (2004). Rediscovery of awe: Splendor, mystery and the fluid center of life. Paragon House.
  54. Schneider, K. J. (2017). The Spirituality of Awe: Challenges to the Robotic Revolution. Cardiff, CA: Waterside Productions.
  55. Schuldberg, D. (2002). Theoretical Contributions of Complex Systems to Positive Psychology and Health: A Somewhat Complicated Affair. Nonlinear Dynamics Psychol Life Sci, 6, 335–350. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019762628246
  56. Schumaker, J. F. (2007). In Search of Happiness: Understanding an Endangered State of Mind. Praeger.
  57. Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: Free Press.
  58. Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being. Atria.
  59. Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.55.1.5
  60. Shmotkin, D. (2005). Happiness in Face of Adversity: Reformulating the Dynamic and Modular Bases of Subjective Well-Being. Review of General Psychology. 9(4), 291–325. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.9.4.291.
  61. Tillich, P. (1963). The courage to be. Yale.
  62. Tillier, W. (2020). The theory of positive disintegration. Positive Living Newsletter. https://www.meaning.ca/article/the-theory-of-positive-disintegration-2/
  63. Thin, N., Tarragona, M., Wong, P. T. P., Jarden, R., Bartholomaeus, J., & Jarden, A. (2017). [Review of the book The pursuit of human well-being: The untold global history, by R. J. Estes & M. J. Sirgy]. International Journal of Wellbeing, 7(1), 84-92. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v7i1.636
  64. Van Deurzen, E. (2008). Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE publications.
  65. Van Deurzen, E. (2013). Continental Contributions to our Understanding of Happiness and Suffering. Oxford University Press.
  66. Wong, P. T. P. (1989). Personal meaning and successful aging. Canadian Psychology, 30(3), 516-525. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0079829
  67. Wong, P. T. P. (2005). Existential and humanistic theories. In J. C. Thomas, & D. L. Segal (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of personality and psychopathology (pp. 192-211). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
  68. Wong, P. T. P. (2007). Viktor Frankl: Prophet of hope for the 21st century. In A. Batthyany & J. Levinson (Eds.), Anthology of Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy. Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker & Theisen Inc.
  69. Wong, P. T. P. (2009). The depth positive psychology of Carl Jung. In S. J. Lopez (Ed.), Encyclopedia of positive psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 545-546). Oxford, UK: Wiley Blackwell.
  70. Wong, P. T. P. (2010). What is existential positive psychology? International Journal of Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy, 3(1), 1-10.
  71. Wong, P. T. P. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology, 52(2), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022511
  72. Wong P. T. P. (Ed.). (2012). The human quest for meaning: Theories, research, and applications (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
  73. Wong, P. T. P. (2013). Positive psychology. In K. Keith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of cross-cultural psychology (pp. 1021-1026). Oxford, UK: Wiley Blackwell.
  74. Wong, P. T. P. (2014). From attunement to a meaning-centred good life. [Review of the book Happiness: A very short introduction, by D. Haybron]. International Journal of Wellbeing, 4(2), 100-105. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v4i2.5
  75. Wong, P. T. P. (2014). Meaning-making and the fundamental issues of human existence [Review of the book The experience of meaning in life: Classical perspectives, emerging themes, and controversies, by J. A. Hicks & C. Routledge]. PsycCRITIQUES, 59(22). 10.1037/a0036782
  76. Wong, P. T. P. (2014). The positive psychology of grit: The defiant power of the human spirit [Review of the film Unbroken, 2014]. PsycCRITIQUES, 60(25). https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039390
  77. Wong, P. T. P. (2016). How to measure existential meaning [Review of the manuscript of The Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale: A tripartite approach to measuring meaning in life]. Dr. Paul T. P. Wong. Retrieved from http://www.drpaulwong.com/how-to-measure-existential-meaning
  78. Wong, P. T. P. (2016). Humanistic theories in psychopathology. In H. L. Miller (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of theory in psychology (pp. 438-441). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  79. Wong, P. T. P. (2016). Meaning-seeking, self-transcendence, and well-being. In A. Batthyany (Ed.), Logotherapy and existential analysis: Proceedings of the Viktor Frankl Institute (Vol. 1; pp. 311-322). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
  80. Wong, P. T. P. (2017). Meaning-centered approach to research and therapy, second wave positive psychology, and the future of humanistic psychology. The Humanistic Psychologist, 45(3), 207-216. doi:10.1037/hum0000062
  81. Wong, P. T. P. (2017). The positive psychology of shame and the theory of PP 2.0 [Review of the book The value of shame: Exploring a health resource in cultural contexts, by E. Vanderheiden & C. H. Mayer] PsycCRITIQUES, 62(34). https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040971
  82. Wong, P. T. P. (2019, October 10). What is the greatest need today? Responsibility is the key to surviving and thriving in dangerous time. Positive Living Newsletter. Retrieved from http://www.drpaulwong.com/what-is-the-greatest-need-today-responsibility-is-the-key-to-surviving-and-thriving-in-dangerous-times/
  83. Wong, P. T. P. (Guest Ed.). (2019). Special Issue: A Second-Wave Positive Psychology in Counselling Psychology. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 32(3-4).
  84. Wong, P. T. P. (2019). Foreword: From shame to wholeness: An existential positive psychology perspective. In C.-H. Mayer, & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), The bright side of shame: Transforming and growing through practical applications in cultural contexts (pp. v-ix). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
  85. Wong, P. T. P. (2020). Existential Positive Psychology and Integrative Meaning Therapy. International Review of Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2020.1814703
  86. Wong, P. T. P. (2020). Made for Resilience and Happiness: Effective Coping with COVID-19 According to Viktor E. Frankl and Paul T. P. Wong. Toronto, ON: INPM Press.
  87. Wong, P. T. P. (2020). Meaning and evil and a two-factor model of search for meaning [Review of the essay Meaning and Evolution, by R. Baumeister & W. von Hippel]. Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture, 4(1), 63-67. DOI: 10.26613/esic/4.1.170
  88. Wong, P. T. P. (2020). The maturing of positive psychology and the emerging PP 2.0 [Book review of Positive Psychology (3rd ed.) by William Compton and Edward Hoffman]. International Journal on WellBeing, 10(1). doi:10.5502/ijw.v10i1.885
  89. Wong, P. T. P. (in press). Preface: Frankl’s cure for a soulless psychology and a sick society. In N. Krasovska & C.-H. Mayer, Psychobiography of Viktor Frankl. Springer publishing.
  90. Wong, P. T. P., & Bowers, V. (2018). Mature happiness and global wellbeing in difficult times. In N. R. Silton (Ed.), Scientific concepts behind happiness, kindness, and empathy in contemporary society (pp. 112-134). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
  91. Wong, P. T. P., & Fry, P. S. (Eds.). (1998). The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
  92. Wong, P. T. P., Mayer, C.-H., & Arslan, G. (Eds.). (In press). Special Issue: COVID-19 and Existential Positive Psychology (PP 2.0): The new science of self-transcendence [Special Issue]. Frontiers.
  93. Wong, P. T. P., & Roy, S. (2017). Critique of positive psychology and positive interventions. In N. J. L. Brown, T. Lomas, & F. J. Eiroa-Orosa (Eds.), The Routledge international handbook of critical positive psychology. London, England: Routledge.
  94. Wong, P. T. P., & Tomer, A. (2011). Beyond terror and denial: The positive psychology of death acceptance. Death Studies, 35(2), 99-106. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2011.535377
  95. Wong, P. T. P., & Worth, P. (2017). The deep-and-wide hypothesis in giftedness and creativity [Special issue]. Psychology and Education, 54(3/4). Retrieved from http://www.psychologyandeducation.net/pae/category/volume-54-no-3-4-2017/
  96. Wong, P. T. P., Wong, L. C. J., McDonald, M. J., & Klaassen, D. W. (Eds.). (2012). The positive psychology of meaning and spirituality: Selected papers from Meaning Conferences. Birmingham, AL: Purpose Research. (Originally published in 2007 by INPM Press).
  97. Zacharias, R., & Vitale, V. (2014). Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. FaithWords.