The Farther Reaches of Human Nature

This posthumous collection of notes, informal talks, essays, and commentaries by the late humanistic psychologist reflects his thinking during the last years. The recurring theme is self-actualization: what are the characteristics and how does one achieve the fully human state Maslow came to define as man's essential purpose. He argues for a normative foundation to all science and for appropriate reforms in education and business which would promote this condition. He defends the various neologisms - eupsychean society, B (for being), D (for deficiency) - as having grown out of empirical necessity. Moreover he appeals for the scientific validity or replication of his work and indicates something of his own historical development, notably the influences of Ruth Benedict and Max Wertheimer in his university days and the early fieldwork in anthropology. In the polarized world of psychology this last expression of Maslow's views by Maslow will not win over the Skinnerians - the philosophical and methodological points of view are still diametrically opposite. Yet even the most dedicated behaviorist might be personally charmed by Maslow, the man: sometimes he is the medieval rabbi, sometimes the wise and provocative Brandeis professor, sometimes perplexed modern man drinking a martini, but always a personage of warmth, intelligence, and dignity. (Kirkus Reviews)