
Soul on Fire: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Psychology of Nonviolence
Author(s): Ghaemi (Author)
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Publication Date: May 21, 2026
- Language: English
- Print length: 288 pages
- ISBN-10: 0197657583
- ISBN-13: 9780197657584
Book Description
Psychological research suggests that depression can heighten empathy, while manic traits may foster resilience in the face of adversity. These insights offer a compelling lens through which to understand how King’s personal psychological experiences may have shaped his extraordinary leadership and moral clarity.
Grounded in expert interpretations,
Soul on Fire explores how King’s emotional depth and psychological complexity informed his philosophy of nonviolence-reframing it as a radical politics of empathy. As one of the first in-depth analyses of the psychological dimensions of nonviolent leadership, this book provides readers with a powerful framework for understanding and embracing nonviolence as a transformative approach to social change.Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Dr. Ghaemi has a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, completed medical and psychiatry residency training at Harvard in the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital programs, received a Master of Arts degree in philosophy from Tufts University, and a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health.
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