Future Visions: The Unpublished Papers of Abraham Maslow

By Abraham H. Maslow

Book Overview

Future Visions is an important book. Its contents will assure the continued influence of Abraham Maslow, whose image of the human psyche was a welcome antidote to the dismal picture portrayed by many of the early psychoanalysts. From Maslow′s perspective, humankind is endowed with a ′will to health′ and a potential for ′self-actualization′--the very qualities that will assure the survival of human beings into the next century and beyond. --Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Saybrook Institute, San Francisco "Over a quarter century since his untimely death, it seems clear that Abraham Maslow was a pioneer in a new direction of psychology (humanistic and transpersonal), even as mainstream psychology would continue to move in the scientism direction for decades to come. In his key book Toward a Psychology of Being (1962), Maslow had a central chapter, ′On the Need to Know and the Fear of Knowing,′ in which he observed that our strongest resistance is not to knowing the most despicable in ourselves but to knowing the highest, ′the most godlike.′ He saw this characteristic as one of the chief obstacles to the coming revolution in our logos of the psyche, as well as in leadership and in organization and social change. This book, Future Visions, is especially inspirational in its demonstration that Maslow saw clearly both the revolutionary force that has continued to grow over the past several decades, and the reasons to anticipate that it would meet with opposition. It is far more apparent now than it was at the time of his death what a remarkable leader Maslow was. This book is extremely helpful in bringing together his thoughts, which, because of his early death, he never assembled into his own summum opus." --Willis Harman, President, Institute of Noetic Sciences One of the founders of humanistic psychology, Abraham Maslow spent a lifetime developing theories that shaped not only psychology but counseling, education, social work, theology, marketing, and management as well. Indicative of his influence, Maslow′s ideas on human behavior and motivation have become a part of public consciousness. At the time of his death 25 years ago, he left a vast collection of articles, essays, and letters intended for publication. Now, noted Maslow biographer and award-winning author Edward Hoffman has compiled the most compelling of these writings into one volume. In an array of letters, working papers, lectures, and journal entries, Maslow shares his thoughts on topics that range from self-actualization and well-being to American politics and organizational management. Hoffman provides helpful introductions to Maslow′s life and work, as well as to each writing, and a handy glossary of terms used by Maslow. Both scholars and students of personality, counseling, and humanistic psychology--as well as management, education, and social work--will discover new insights into Abraham Maslow′s influential work through this important book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761900519
• ISBN13: 9780761900511
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Sage Publications
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Unpublished Genius of Abraham Maslow

Perhaps Colin Wilson says it all in his introduction to this book: "... there is a sense that Maslow has STILL not come into his own. His significance lies in the future and will become apparent in the 21st century." By publishing these papers, Edward Hoffman has done a great service to those who want to know more of the advanced theories of Maslow regarding self-actualizing, metavalues and metamotivations. The book features an excellent biographical sketch of Maslow's career by Hoffman. There are many gems in this book, but my favorite is "17 - Higher Motivation and the New Psychology." In this paper Dr. Maslow sets aside his prepared text and delivers a spell-binding talk about his unfolding theories. It was late in his career, at the University of Maine, and fortunately it was recorded and transcribed. To give you an idea of how important Maslow felt it was, he states early on: "I am just at the point of developing a new theory, and I am not quite courageous enough to accept its implications. It almost frightens me. I am scared of what it may mean in overturning mainstream psychological notions, and it rouses a whole conflict of pride and humility, hubris and fear. Well, let me try it, and if my voice begins to quiver, you'll know why." He then rolls out essential material for the scholar or layperson who seeks to learn his insights regarding values, metavalues, and self-actualizing that were overlooked at the time, and have yet to be fully appreciated.

Dollars drive commerce .... but Dignity Drives People

The "Future Visions The Unpublished Papers of Abraham Maslow" has opened my eyes anew. I only wish his works had been given their due instead of the distilled pabulum treatment served during my time at the university.As both a CPA and organizational consultant, I found this book extremely insightful as well as pragmatically useful when assessing the collective energy and drive of both organizations and their leaders. Dollars may drive commerce but it's dignity that drive people. Maslow's ideas when fully integrated into formal organizational feedback metrics will be sure to inspire man's natural leadership and then begin to focus on a higher path of being. A nice piece of work.