Book SummaryFlourish, by Martin E. P. Seligman

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Flourish

Many of us think that happiness is the ultimate goal in life. But is happiness enough for us to flourish—to live well and enjoy our lives to the fullest? In Flourish, psychologist Martin E. P. Seligman argues that in our quest to flourish as humans, other aspects of life matter just as much as, if not more, than happiness. He proposes that instead of prioritizing happiness as the gateway to a good life, we—as individuals and as a society—should cultivate well-being, which is a blend of five elements: positive emotion, engagement, meaning, relationships, and achievement. We can fortify these pillars of well-being by applying the principles of positive psychology in our lives and society, so...

Flourish Summary Well-Being Is the Key to Flourishing

We often think happiness is the key to flourishing—to living a rich, joyful, and fulfilling life. That’s what Seligman once believed, too, when he wrote his previous book, Authentic Happiness. But now, a decade later, he has a new theory—that well-being, not happiness, is the key to a good life. He argues that happiness rests too heavily on having a positive mood, which isn't a reliable indicator of a meaningful life. Well-being, on the other hand, is an interplay of multiple factors that enrich your life, with none being more important than the others.

(Shortform note: Pursuing happiness can actually make you less happy. One study shows that people who value happiness the most have 50% fewer positive emotions, 35% less life satisfaction, and 75% more depressive symptoms than people who prioritize other things in life. This evidence supports Seligman’s multifaceted concept of well-being and suggests that instead of pressuring yourself to be happier, you should pursue other enriching aspects of life. By doing so, you may find that joy and satisfaction come naturally.)

The Five Elements...

Flourish Summary How to Enhance Well-Being: Practice Positive Psychology

According to Seligman, we can enhance personal and global well-being by practicing and teaching the principles of positive psychology. Positive psychology focuses on cultivating good traits and resources that help you get the most out of your life—such as resilience, optimism, gratitude, personal strengths, and so on. It differs from traditional psychology in that traditional psychology focuses on relieving people of miseries, traumas, and other difficulties.

(Shortform note: Positive psychology is a relatively new discipline that was founded by Seligman in 1998. It has its roots in the humanistic psychology movement, which studies how people can achieve their full potential. But while Seligman is often considered the “father of positive psychology,” the term was first coined by humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow, who also wanted to shift psychology’s focus to helping people cultivate the good in life. Maslow created a hierarchy of five basic human needs that shares some similarities with Seligman’s five pillars of well-being.)

While helpful to an extent, removing...

Flourish Summary The Future of Well-Being and Positive Psychology

Now that we’ve explored various ways to increase well-being, let’s discuss Seligman’s hopes for the future of positive psychology and how he believes teaching well-being can improve quality of life across the globe. Seligman argues that we should teach positive psychology and promote well-being not only on an individual level but also on an institutional and national level.

Seligman discusses ways positive psychology programs have already benefited various institutions, like by improving learning in schools and enhancing psychological wellness in the military. To increase well-being for more people, he advocates that workplaces and institutions (educational, governmental, and so on) adopt the principles of positive psychology. Teaching people the pillars of well-being and arming them with tools to achieve them will enable more people to lead healthier, satisfying, and more productive lives.

(Shortorm note: Some experts...

Shortform Exercise: Use Your Strengths to Enhance Your Well-Being

Identify and use your strengths to boost your well-being.

Take the VIA Signature Strengths Test or simply reflect on what your strengths might be. Write down one of your strengths.

Shortform Exercise: Respond Actively and Constructively to Good News

Practice using active and constructive responses to celebrate others’ successes and improve the quality of your relationships.

Describe a recent time when someone shared good news with you. What was the good news about?