Abraham Maslow – Toward a Psychology of Being

Abraham Maslow’s Toward a Psychology of Being is a seminal text that presents his theories on human motivation and self-actualization. In this work, Maslow emphasizes the need to understand the higher aspects of human psychology beyond basic survival and deficiency needs, advocating for a focus on personal growth, creativity, and fulfillment. He introduces the concept of self-actualization as the realization of an individual’s potential, emphasizing that true well-being comes from pursuing higher values and meaningful experiences. The book challenges traditional psychological frameworks by highlighting the importance of positive human experiences and the quest for authenticity, making it essential reading for anyone interested in psychology, personal development, and the pursuit of a richer, more meaningful life.

Abraham Maslow’s theories of self-actualization and the hierarchy of human needs are the cornerstone of modern humanistic psychology, and no book so well epitomizes those ideas as his classic Toward a Psychology of Being.
A profound book, an exciting book, its influence continues to spread, more than a quarter century after its author’s death, beyond psychology and throughout the humanities, social theory, and business management theory.
Of course, the book’s enduring popularity stems from the important questions it raises and the answers it provides concerning what is fundamental to human nature and psychological well-being, and what is needed to promote, maintain, and restore mental and emotional well-being. But its success also has to do with Maslow’s unique ability to convey difficult philosophical concepts with passion, precision, and astonishing clarity, and, through the power of his words, to ignite in readers a sense of creative joy and wholeness toward which we, as beings capable of self-actualization, strive.
This Third Edition makes Abraham Maslow’s ideas accessible to a new generation of psychology students, as well as businesspeople, managers, and trainers interested in applying the study of human behavior to management techniques.
An energetic and articulate scholar, Professor Maslow was the author of more than twenty books, including Eupsychian Management; Psychology of Science; Religions, Values, and Peak Experiences; Motivation and Personality; and Principles of Abnormal Psychology (with B. Mittelmann). He also edited New Knowledge in Human Values and wrote nearly one hundred articles. His teachings continue to be a staple for psychologists and psychology students.