Complete Bibliography & Further Reading
The science behind work-life integration and holistic balance
UBBalanced2 is built on decades of rigorous research in organizational psychology, positive psychology, and wellness science. This page provides a comprehensive bibliography of the academic works, books, and research papers that inform the product's 10 balance dimensions and 22 modules. Each source is available through Amazon with direct purchase links.
The foundational research upon which UBBalanced2's integration approach is built:
2008 • Harvard Business Press
The seminal work that forms the backbone of UBBalanced2. Friedman, founding director of the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project, presents research showing that you don't have to sacrifice one life domain for another. His "four-way wins" approach demonstrates how to create synergies across work, home, community, and self.
Essential texts from leading researchers on work-life integration:
2014 • Harvard Business Review Press
Friedman's follow-up work profiles six extraordinary leaders who have integrated their work and personal lives in creative ways. Provides practical skills for anyone seeking to lead a fuller life.
2003 • Free Press
Groundbreaking research showing that managing energy—not time—is the key to high performance and personal renewal. Introduces the concept of building rituals for energy recovery.
2014 • Sarah Crichton Books
Award-winning journalist Brigid Schulte explores the epidemic of busyness and what research shows about finding time for what matters. Blends personal narrative with scientific research.
2010 • Portfolio
Based on time-use research, Vanderkam shows how busy, successful people really spend their 168 weekly hours—and how you can too. Challenges assumptions about time scarcity.
Research on reducing complexity and protecting your attention:
2014 • Crown Business
McKeown argues that almost everything is noise, and only a few things matter. The disciplined pursuit of less enables us to focus on what's truly important. A philosophical and practical guide to simplification.
2016 • Grand Central Publishing
Newport argues that the ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it's becoming increasingly valuable. Provides rules for cultivating this ability.
2021 • Portfolio
Newport explores how constant communication has hijacked our work lives and proposes a new vision of work built around productive collaboration rather than endless messaging.
1989 • Simon & Schuster
The classic text on personal effectiveness, including the influential time management matrix distinguishing urgent from important. "Begin with the end in mind" and "Put first things first" remain foundational.
Research on the critical role of rest in sustained high performance:
2016 • Basic Books
Drawing on science and the habits of history's most creative minds, Pang shows that rest is not the absence of work but its essential complement. Active rest—like walking, napping, and play—fuels creativity.
2017 • Scribner
Neuroscientist Matthew Walker explores everything science has discovered about sleep and its profound impact on every aspect of our physical and mental health. A wake-up call about the importance of sleep.
2019 • Ballantine Books
The Nagoski sisters explain what burnout is, what causes it, and how to address it with practical, science-based strategies for completing the stress cycle.
Peer-reviewed research underlying UBBalanced2's evidence-based approach:
Greenhaus, J. H., & Allen, T. D. (2011). In J. C. Quick & L. E. Tetrick (Eds.), Handbook of Occupational Health Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 165-183). American Psychological Association.
Comprehensive review of work-family balance definitions, antecedents, and outcomes—foundational for understanding balance as a construct.
Schwartz, T., & McCarthy, C. (2007). Harvard Business Review, 85(10), 63-73.
Introduces the concept of energy management as superior to time management for sustainable high performance—key insight behind Dimension 4.
Sonnentag, S. (2003). Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(3), 518-528.
Research demonstrating that recovery experiences during off-job time predict work engagement the next day—supporting Dimension 7.
Kreiner, G. E., Hollensbe, E. C., & Sheep, M. L. (2009). Academy of Management Journal, 52(4), 704-730.
Identifies specific boundary work tactics people use to manage work-life demands—informing Dimension 3 (Boundary Setting).
Rothbard, N. P. (2001). Administrative Science Quarterly, 46(4), 655-684.
Explores how engagement in one role (work or family) can either enrich or deplete engagement in the other—foundational for Dimension 5.
Google Scholar is a free academic search engine that indexes peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, and conference proceedings from universities and research institutions worldwide.
Unlike regular Google, Scholar focuses exclusively on academic and scholarly sources—the original research that books like those above are based on.
Use Google Scholar when you want to:
Note: Some papers require institutional access or purchase, but many are freely available as PDFs.
Transform evidence-based balance research into daily inspiration with UBBalanced2's 22 modules and 2,200+ curated quotes.