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Authentic Happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment by Martin Seligman, Free Press, $26, ISBN 0743222970 Reviewed by Robert Emmons

THE career of eminent psychologist Martin Seligman has spanned both 鈥渘egative鈥� and 鈥減ositive鈥� psychology: from learned helplessness and depression to learned optimism and hope. When he was president of the American Psychological Association a few years ago, his agenda was the transformation of a field that, in his view, was exclusively preoccupied with weakness and pathology to one which was equally respectful of psychological strengths and virtues.

Armed with more funds than, as he admits, he ever acquired for the study of mental pathology, he galvanised and inspired a large cadre of researchers to assist him in his mission.

This book is a compilation of their contributions to the field of 鈥減ositive psychology鈥�: the study of positive emotions, such as joy and happiness, and virtues, such as courage, love, wisdom and spirituality. The emphasis is on practically applying knowledge gleaned from this research to build your own 鈥渟ignature鈥� strengths for living a meaningful life.

Seligman is a master storyteller, and laces his book with personal anecdotes that provide important clues to how the positive psychology movement evolved. He recounts conversations with the rich and powerful in exotic locales and family inspired epiphanies which Seligman credits with teaching him about the 鈥渂est things in life鈥�.

If you want a readable, non-technical introduction to the psychology of happiness by one of the most eminent psychologists of the past 100 years, this book is for you. For those who want to go deeper, the extensive footnotes provide ample direction.