HOW FULL IS YOUR BUCKET

Raith, T. and D. Clinton ( 2004) How full is your bucket, Gallup Press, New York

Grandfather and grandson team up on a positive psychology cope book. The story starts in North Korean camps during the Korean war. American enlisted men who were captured are given a series of negativity meetings all day long. The strategies are many, but the main theme is that

the captured Americans go to their tents, lie down and die. That is without physical torture or rat infested isolation hell holes. The negativity is built around numerous ways for the yanks to know that no one likes them. There is no one in this  material world that unconditionally cares about them.

The book is about SINCERE positive encouragement or positive reinforcement. It also takes into account that there are toxic people who are not likely to change and will make your life miserable if not the entire work group.The research suggestthat positivity appears to be genetic but is nurtured by the environment.

The authors use the metaphor of dipper and bucket, but beyond that it is really about sincerely

telling a worker or colleague that there is something good about them. It has a ripple effect and many people prosper on a 5 to 1 ratio (5 good remarks to 1 bad one.) The opposite end is

13 to 1 ratios of same in which beyond that is a tipping point of lowered morale and productivity.

The authors also suggest the following to get the positive psychology in motion. In the reviewer's

words, 1) avoid the toxic types 2) show others about what is right about themselves 3) make best friends to help them and yourself 4) Give unexpectedly and 5) Reverse the Golden Rule (in so many words treat the other person as they want to be treated assuming that want to be treated good.)

The book is written simply and appears to be convincing. It was a best seller and a type of book that enchanted the general reader.