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Psychology » Applied Psychology

Browse book recommendations:

Psychology

  • Applied Psychology
  • Autism
  • Child Psychology
  • Mental Health
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Psychology Research
  • Self Help
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Applied psychology takes all our findings from scientific study and aims to take these principles, concepts and methods and turn them into real-life results.  Here experts recommend books on all angles of applied psychology.

Clinical psychologists, through cognitive, behavioural or analytic therapies, hope to make us happier and better able to cope with distressing events in our lives. Family and relationship psychologists use talking therapies to help us better communicate with our nearest and dearest. Other applied psychologists offer specialist insight into the human mind to those working in fields like business, police investigation, town planning and education.

Applied psychologists ask questions like: What qualities make a good leader or manager? What stops criminals reoffending? How can we harness what we know about the human mind to repair failing relationships or toxic work environments?

We've spoken to experts like the relationship therapist and bestselling author Mira Kirschenbaum and educational psychologist Jacqueline Leighton, asking them to recommend the best books in their specialist fields of applied psychology.

    The best books on Sports Psychology, recommended by Bill Cole

  • Read
    The best books on Sports Psychology - The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey

    1

    The Inner Game of Tennis
    by W. Timothy Gallwey

  • Read
    The best books on Sports Psychology - Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect by Bob Rotella

    2

    Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect
    by Bob Rotella

  • Read
    The best books on Sports Psychology - Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens by Joseph Parent

    3

    Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens
    by Joseph Parent

  • Read
    The best books on Sports Psychology - Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time by Ken Ravizza & Tom Hanson

    4

    Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time
    by Ken Ravizza & Tom Hanson

  • Read
    The best books on Sports Psychology - The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, And Thrive by Jim Afremow

    5

    The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, And Thrive
    by Jim Afremow

The best books on Sports Psychology, recommended by Bill Cole

What do you think about when you’re training at the gym, or on the tennis court? And what should you think about, if your goal is maximizing performance and results? Seasoned sports psychologist Bill Cole, coach for numerous Olympic teams and top-level international athletes, reveals that the number one road block to athletic performance often isn’t physical—it’s overthinking.

    The best books on Forensic Psychology, recommended by David Canter

  • Read
    The best books on Forensic Psychology - Forensic Psychology for Dummies by David Canter

    1

    Forensic Psychology for Dummies
    by David Canter

  • Read
    The best books on Forensic Psychology - The Criminal by Havelock Ellis

    2

    The Criminal
    by Havelock Ellis

  • Read
    The best books on Forensic Psychology - Inside the Criminal Mind by Stanton Samenow

    3

    Inside the Criminal Mind
    by Stanton Samenow

  • Read
    The best books on Forensic Psychology - The Psychology of Criminal Conduct: Theory, Research and Practice by Ronald Blackburn

    4

    The Psychology of Criminal Conduct: Theory, Research and Practice
    by Ronald Blackburn

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    The best books on Forensic Psychology - Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Research and Application Curtis & Anne Bartol

    5

    Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Research and Application
    Curtis & Anne Bartol

The best books on Forensic Psychology, recommended by David Canter

There’s more to criminal psychology than Mindhunter and Silence of the Lambs would have you believe, says the offender profiling pioneer David Canter. Here, he selects five of the best books on forensic psychology.

    The best books on Clinical Psychology, recommended by Susan Llewelyn

  • Read
    The best books on Clinical Psychology - The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy by Irvin D Yalom

    1

    The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy
    by Irvin D Yalom

  • Read
    The best books on Clinical Psychology - Introduction to Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Principles and Practice by Anthony Ryle & Ian B Kerr

    2

    Introduction to Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Principles and Practice
    by Anthony Ryle & Ian B Kerr

  • Read
    The best books on Clinical Psychology - Managing Your Mind: The Mental Fitness Guide by Gillian Butler, Tony Hope & Nick Grey

    3

    Managing Your Mind: The Mental Fitness Guide
    by Gillian Butler, Tony Hope & Nick Grey

  • Read
    The best books on Clinical Psychology - What Works for Whom: A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research by Anthony Roth & Peter Fonagy

    4

    What Works for Whom: A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research
    by Anthony Roth & Peter Fonagy

  • Read
    The best books on Clinical Psychology - Why Don't I Feel Good Enough?: Using Attachment Theory to Find a Solution by Helen Dent

    5

    Why Don't I Feel Good Enough?: Using Attachment Theory to Find a Solution
    by Helen Dent

The best books on Clinical Psychology, recommended by Susan Llewelyn

Clinical psychologists look at how we feel, how that affects how we behave, and whether we can change. Here, the Oxford academic and clinician Susan Llewelyn discusses five key books in the field of clinical psychology, why clinicians must keep their minds open to new approaches, and why aspiring psychologists should read as many novels as they can.

    The best books on Emotional Intelligence, recommended by Daniel Goleman

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    The best books on Emotional Intelligence - The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education by Daniel Goleman and Peter Senge

    1

    The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education
    by Daniel Goleman and Peter Senge

  • Read
    The best books on Emotional Intelligence - Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning: Research and Practice by ed. Durlak et al

    2

    Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning: Research and Practice
    by ed. Durlak et al

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    The best books on Emotional Intelligence - The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science by ed. Seppälä et al

    3

    The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science
    by ed. Seppälä et al

  • Read
    The best books on Emotional Intelligence - Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Heart by Tara Bennett-Goleman

    4

    Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Heart
    by Tara Bennett-Goleman

  • Read
    The best books on Emotional Intelligence - Marrow: Love, Loss, and What Matters Most by Elizabeth Lesser

    5

    Marrow: Love, Loss, and What Matters Most
    by Elizabeth Lesser

The best books on Emotional Intelligence, recommended by Daniel Goleman

We are taught to value intelligence and academic ability, but raw mental firepower does not always translate into success at work or a life of contentment. Just as important are the skills that make up ’emotional intelligence,’ says Daniel Goleman, whose bestselling book popularised the concept. Here he chooses five emotional intelligence books that explore its practical applications.

    The best books on Educational Testing, recommended by Jacqueline Leighton

  • Read
    The best books on Educational Testing - Measuring the Mind: Conceptual Issues in Contemporary Psychometrics by Denny Borsboom

    1

    Measuring the Mind: Conceptual Issues in Contemporary Psychometrics
    by Denny Borsboom

  • Read
    The best books on Educational Testing - Protocol Analysis: Verbal Reports as Data by Ericsson and Simon

    2

    Protocol Analysis: Verbal Reports as Data
    by Ericsson and Simon

  • Read
    The best books on Educational Testing - Knowing What Students Know: The Science and Design of Educational Assessment by Pellegrino and Chudowsky and Glaser (eds)

    3

    Knowing What Students Know: The Science and Design of Educational Assessment
    by Pellegrino and Chudowsky and Glaser (eds)

  • Read
    The best books on Educational Testing - How Children Fail by John Holt

    4

    How Children Fail
    by John Holt

  • Read
    The best books on Educational Testing - Freedom to Learn by Carl Rogers

    5

    Freedom to Learn
    by Carl Rogers

The best books on Educational Testing, recommended by Jacqueline Leighton

At school, children get tested a lot. How do those tests impact their learning? How can tests be made fairer? Educational psychologist Jacqueline Leighton introduces the best books in the evolving field of educational testing.

    The best books on Leadership, recommended by Brett Wigdortz

  • Read
    The best books on Leadership - Tribal Business School by Jo Owen

    1

    Tribal Business School
    by Jo Owen

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    The best books on Leadership - The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

    2

    The Tipping Point
    by Malcom Gladwell

  • Read
    The best books on Leadership - From Good to Great by Jim Collins

    3

    From Good to Great
    by Jim Collins

  • Read
    The best books on Leadership - Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

    4

    Freedom from Fear
    by Aung San Suu Kyi

  • Read
    The best books on Leadership - The Book of Exodus by Various

    5

    The Book of Exodus
    by Various

The best books on Leadership, recommended by Brett Wigdortz

Good leaders combine iron will with a dose of humility, says the founder of groundbreaking teaching charity Teach First. He traces leadership skills back to Moses, and tells us about books we can all learn from.

    Alastair Campbell on Leadership

  • Read
    Alastair Campbell on Leadership - Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

    1

    Team of Rivals
    by Doris Kearns Goodwin

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    Alastair Campbell on Leadership - Perestroika by Mikhail Gorbachev

    2

    Perestroika
    by Mikhail Gorbachev

  • Read
    Alastair Campbell on Leadership - Bodyline Autopsy by David Frith

    3

    Bodyline Autopsy
    by David Frith

  • Read
    Alastair Campbell on Leadership - Every Second Counts by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins

    4

    Every Second Counts
    by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins

  • Read
    Alastair Campbell on Leadership - Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

    5

    Alone in Berlin
    by Hans Fallada

Alastair Campbell on Leadership

Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former communications chief, takes a look at leadership in politics and in sport, recognising that ordinary citizens can show courageous moral leadership

    The best books on Happiness at Work, recommended by Jessica Pryce-Jones

  • Read
    The best books on Happiness at Work - First, Break All the Rules by Jessica Pryce-Jones

    1

    First, Break All the Rules
    by Jessica Pryce-Jones

  • Read
    The best books on Happiness at Work - Authentic Happiness by Martin E P Seligman

    2

    Authentic Happiness
    by Martin E P Seligman

  • Read
    The best books on Happiness at Work - Happiness: Lessons from a New Science by Richard Layard

    3

    Happiness: Lessons from a New Science
    by Richard Layard

  • Read
    The best books on Happiness at Work - Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

    4

    Stumbling on Happiness
    by Daniel Gilbert

  • Read
    The best books on Happiness at Work - The No Asshole Rule by Robert I Sutton

    5

    The No Asshole Rule
    by Robert I Sutton

The best books on Happiness at Work, recommended by Jessica Pryce-Jones

The CEO of iOpener, a human asset management consultancy, explains how you can increase happiness and thus productivity in the workplace. She picks five essential reads for bosses and employees.

About

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand interviews, or five thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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