Chapter 29: Further Reading

Essential Sources

Oettingen, G. (2014). Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation. Current. Oettingen's popular book presenting the mental contrasting and WOOP research.

Wood, J. V., Perunovic, W. Q. E., & Lee, J. W. (2009). "Positive self-statements: Power for some, peril for others." Psychological Science, 20(7), 860–866. The affirmation backfire study.

Neff, K. D. (2003). "Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself." Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101. Foundational paper on self-compassion.

Oettingen, G., Pak, H., & Schnetter, K. (2001). "Self-regulation of goal-setting: Turning free fantasies about the future into binding goals." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80(5), 736–753. The study showing mental contrasting outperforms positive fantasy.

Byrne, R. (2006). The Secret. Atria. Read critically — 30 million copies sold on a claim with no evidence.

Seligman, M. E. P. (2006). Learned Optimism. Vintage. Evidence-based optimism, grounded in explanatory style research.

Online Resources

WOOP My Life (woopmylife.org). Free tools and resources for implementing WOOP. The evidence-based, free alternative to manifesting courses.