Pearsall, Paul. The Beethoven Factor: the New Positive Psychology of Hardiness, Happiness, Healing, and Hope.(Brief Article)(Book Review)

Hampton Roads. Sept. 2003. c.252p. ISBN 1-57174-397-9. $22.95.

For Pearsall (The Pleasure Prescription), "'just making it through' and existing are ultimately never enough." To succeed, one must thrive, and that usually means overcoming great trauma and stress--much as Beethoven did to create his master works. Here, he presents case studies of everyday people who have beat the odds and are happier for it, with an eye toward developing such skills in readers. Thriving embodies what he calls "positive psychology" a …