The Farther Reaches of Human Nature (Compass) (original 1972; edition 1993)

I was impressed with this book by Abraham Maslow as he looked at human potential in many aspects of modern culture from business to science to family to education and more. He applies his hierachy of needs to these different aspects of society and gives examples, from the basics of survival in these areas up the pyramid to the self-actualization or transcendence beyond these social institutions. The book covers area of human thought and action including creativity, health, values, education, being, and motivation. His approach made sense to me decades ago and, in spite of his detractors, it still compliments the individualist views to which I adhere. His style is very readable for those unfamiliar with technical psychology as he lays out the methods of achieving these farther reaches of human nature. ( )

In "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature", an extension of "Toward a Psychology of Being", Maslow explores the complexities of human nature by using both the empirical methods of science and the aesthetics of philosophical inquiry. With essays on biology, synergy, creativity, cognition, self-actualization, and the hierarchy of needs, this posthumous work is a synthesis of Maslow's ideas. Many psychologists see Maslow's ideas as dated these days and it is true that there is more than a whif of the 1960's: but perhaps there was an influence on the field of Positive Psychology. Robyn Skynner and John Cleese also cite, indirectly, some of his ideas about the self actualised indiividual.