Roelf Van Niekerk – författare

This book explores psychobiography with focus on meaning making and identity development in the life and works of extraordinary individuals. Meaning-making and identity development are existential constructs influencing psychological development, mental health and wellbeing across the lifecourse. The chapters illustrate through the eyes of 25 international psychobiographers various theoretical and methodological approaches to psychobiography. They explore how individuals, such as Angela Merkel, Karl Lagerfeld, Henri Nouwen, Vivian Maier, Charles Baudelaire, W.E.B. du Bois, Loránt Hegedüs, Kim Philby, Zoltan Paul Dienes, Albertina Sisulu, Ruth First, Sokrates, and Jesus construct their lives to make meaning, develop their identities and grow as individuals within their sociocultural contexts. The texts provide deep insight into life’s development.

The volume provides a broad and at the same time in-depth perspective into psychobiography beyond the usual contexts and therefore has new and original learnings to offer across disciplines and cultures. It is a breakthrough in terms ofits transcultural and transdisciplinary insights into lives lived in different contexts in the world.

"Every person is in certain respects (a) like all other persons, (b) like some other persons, (c) like no other persons.  This book is a challenging and fascinating exploration of extending psychobiography beyond its origins in Europe and America to women and men of different races and social and economic classes from Africa, Asia, and around the world. At its best, psychobiography can increase people''s awareness of their own subjective experience and that of others, contributing to movements for social, cultural and political  change."

William McKinley Runyan,  Professor Emeritus & Professor of the Graduate School,  School of Social Welfare, U. of California Berkeley

Beyond Weird is beyond needed.  The book triumphantly fills the gap created by a dearth of studies of people other than Western, educated, European and American men. 

James William Anderson, PhD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago.

The authors explore the life and leadership of extraordinary political leaders in different socio-cultural contexts and epochs and present new insights in political psychobiography. They investigate the lives, personalities, politics, philosophies, careers, leadership and leadership styles of leaders from the UK, Germany, France, South Africa, China, Turkey and Zimbabwe and lead discourses on the advancement of contemporary theories and methodologies. A must read to understand leaders and leadership in historical, contemporary, cultural and intercultural perspectives!