Robert E. McGrath
Professor of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Robert McGrath, the author of Bringing Fire: How Innovation Helps Us Change and Makes Us Fight, has been studying positive psychological functioning in humans for more than a decade. As a Professor of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, he has authored more than 50 publications on the topic, including his previous co-authored book The Power of Character Strengths. He is the primary author of the current VIA Inventory of Strengths, a questionnaire available to complete online free of charge to receive feedback on your character strengths. The VIA Inventory has been completed more than 30 million times around the world, and was recently featured on NPR’s All Things Considered. Among other things, Bringing Fire is a book about human psychological progress, cultural change, and the tensions that can accompany development. His work engages questions of human character and how understanding people across time can help us make sense of the present.
Philosopher's Notes on Robert E. McGrath's Books
Philosopher's Notes
The Power of Character Strengths
by Robert E. McGrath and Ryan M. Niemiec
Ryan Niemiec and Robert McGrath are two of the leading figures in the positive psychology movement and, more specifically, within the organization called the VIA Institute on Character. (VIA is short for “Virtues in Action.”) The organization has played a leading role in the study of virtue as it applies to flourishing. It was created by Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson who worked with over 50 scientists to create a deeper understanding of the power of character strengths. They also created the VIA Inventory of Strengths test that has been taken by millions of people from around the world. Ryan is the Education Director of the VIA Institute while Robert is the Senior Scientist. This book is “An Official Guide from the VIA Institute on Character” that helps us “Appreciate and Ignite Your Positive Personality.” Big Ideas we explore include a quick look at the VIA origin story, the 24 character strengths (you know the Top 5?), finding balance (underuse vs. overuse vs. optimal use!) and the Top 2: Hope + Zest!