Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization

“What a masterpiece! Maslow 2.0—a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what Maslow meant by self-transcendence.”
—Angela Duckworth, author of Grit


“This is the book we’ve all been waiting for—nothing less than a breathtaking new psy­chology of humanity.”
—Susan Cain, author of Quiet


“Scott Barry Kaufman is one of my favorite thinkers about the psychology of getting better and growing as a person.”
—Ryan Holiday, author of The Daily Stoic

A bold reimagining of Maslow's famous hierarchy of needs—by one of the leading psychologists of our time


When psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman discovered Abraham Maslow's unfinished theory of transcendence, sprinkled throughout a cache of unpublished journals, he knew it contained fresh insights for living in today’s chaotic world.

In this groundbreaking book, Kaufman picks up where Maslow left off, building a new level at the peak of the famous hierarchy of needs pyramid—and integrating the latest research on attachment, connection, creativity, purpose, and other building blocks of a life well-lived.

Transcend provides a roadmap for finding fulfillment, not by striving for money, success, or "happiness," but by becoming the best version of ourselves, or what Maslow called self-actualization.

With never-before-published insights and new research findings, along with exercises for gaining insight into your own unique personality, this empowering book is a manual for reflection and personal growth—and a tool for nurturing a deeper connection not only with our highest potential, but also with the rest of humanity.