Read & Listen 
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More than a self-help book, Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization is an invitation to explore an inspiring new take on Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman engages readers in an enticing conversation, urging them to discover their most authentic self and embrace it with full force: “If you truly wish to self-actualize — and even transcend — in your own style, driven by the desire for growth, exploration, purpose, creativity, and love for all of humanity, then keep reading ...” he writes.
Kaufman proposes a reconceptualization of the model, interweaving personal narratives, historical accounts, ethnographic studies, cognitive neuroscience research, practical self-evaluation scales, and humanistic psychology to challenge traditional understandings of the pyramid-style hierarchy. Dr. Kaufman points out, “Maslow emphasized that we are always in a state of becoming and that one’s ‘inner core’ consists merely of ‘potentialities, not final actualizations’ that are ‘weak, subtle, and delicate, very easily drowned out by learning, by cultural expectations, by fear, by disapproval, etc.,’ and which can all too easily become forgotten, neglected, unused, overlooked, unverbalized, or suppressed. Maslow made it clear that human maturation is an ongoing process and that growth is ‘not a sudden, saltatory phenomenon’ but is often two steps forward and one step back.”
In spite of the cerebral subject matter, Kaufman’s winsome style gives his narrative the quality of a walk on the beach with a friend. He smoothly mingles intricate and complex principles of humanistic psychology with his takes on modern scientific research findings and other related fields. He explores the role that fear and anxiety have on personal health, learning, and growth, challenging the reader to examine their own attachments, patterns, and mindsets as they strive to become the best versions of themselves.
The author meets readers where they are, providing self-evaluation measures that enable them to identify their current position within this new dynamic hierarchy of needs. “I believe in the fundamental capacity of humans for growth. ... .I believe that this book can help you grow, in your own style, and in such a way that allows you to show the universe that you really existed, and benefited others, while you were here.”
Kaufman’s guidance helps readers embark on their own unique voyages on the sea of life, one that goes beyond self-actualization and ventures into transcendence, all the while reminding us that “we should recognize our common humanity” in order to increase our life satisfaction. In other words, by consistently improving ourselves and positively contributing to society, we become more selfless as individuals and more interconnected as a collective human race.
Presented as a road map for personal fulfillment, the model uses the metaphor of a sailboat — a triangle atop a half-circle — to highlight the existence of two distinct categories of needs, those dealing with “security” and those pertaining to “growth.” This “fundamentally human” approach enables an invigorating exploration into healthy transcendence and integration of one’s entire being, concluding with practical and accessible principles and resources, such as “Theory Z,” which imparts an inspiring vision of human potential. Transcend is for everyone who is interested in opening their sails and exploring life’s possibilities through self-fulfilment and connection to others.
