Matthew W. Gallagher & Shane J. Lopez 
Oxford Handbook of Hope [PDF ebook] 

The scientific study of hope has flourished in the past twenty years since C.R. Snyder first proposed a model of hope that defined it as "a positive motivational state that is based on an interactively derived sense of successful (1) goal-directed energy (agency) and (2) planning to meet goals (pathways)." Hope has long been a topic of interest for philosophers, psychologists, educators, and physicians and in the past few decades researchers from various disciplines and from around the world have studied how hope relates to superior academic performance, improved outcomes in the workplace, and improved psychological and physical health in individuals of all ages. The Oxford Handbook of Hope will provide a comprehensive update on the past 25 years of hope research while simultaneously providing an outline of what leading hope researchers believe the future of hope research to be. The Handbook will be targeted towards researchers, professors, and advanced students interested in learning about current status and future directions of the science of hope. It will provide a comprehensive overview of the science of hope and will also be able to serve as a textbook for advanced seminars for undergraduates and graduate students interested in one of the most robust areas of positive psychology research.