Existential Psychology East-West Overview: Existential Psychology East-West presents a dialogue between leading Eastern and Western Scholars on existential psychology and psychotherapy. This unique book places emphasis on dialogue and mutual growth instead of merely applying existential psychology in an Eastern context. The book begins with an thorough overview of existential psychology as it has been developed in the West, particularly the tradition of Rollo May and James F. T. Bugental. The second section of the book immerses the reader in a dialogue between East and West including many important historical and contemporary Chinese scholars. This section has chapters by leading existential scholars Kirk Schneider and Erik Craig, among others. The final section of the book explores a variety of myths, which are understood as being cultural specific responses to the existential givens. Drawing on Rollo May's theory in the book The Cry for Myth, these stories provide an in depth analysis on how various cultural myths can illuminate ways individual cultures have faced the existential givens. ReviewsExistential psychology is more relevant to the contemporary world than ever before. This dynamic and provocative anthology not only presents an authoritative history and descriptions of the topic, but includes chapters by Chinese psychologists who have found ways in which existentialism both resonates and contrasts with Asian wisdom traditions. This is a cutting edge book that needs not only to be read, but to be applied to the human condition, both East and West.
~ Stanley Krippner, PhD Professor of Psychology, Saybrook Graduate School Co-Editor, The Psychological Impact of War Trauma on Civilians Face-to-face interaction in China led to virtual collaboration in writing this book. With the perspectives of scholars in both the USA and China represented, a true dialogic relationship is evident in this collection. Differences and difficulties in cultural understandings of existentialism are addressed forthrightly which deepens the reflection process that is a hallmark of existential psychology. Existential Psychology East-West also serves as a bridge to Chinese/Asian traditions as they are articulated from an existential perspective. What a terrific model for cross-cultural collaboration and dialogue!
~ David Lukoff, PhD Core Faculty, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology Existential Psychology East-West will appeal to anyone with an interest in understanding themselves and the nature and nurture of the human condition. Reading EPEW is like encountering a great river. It courses through the existential terrain and draws from many tributaries. It is both mysterious and inviting, beckoning the reader: ride the currents, plumb the depths, drink from the water. It is high time that an edition like this should appear. Toward the end of his life, Martin Heidegger noted parallels between his own thought and that of Eastern religious thinkers. Following in the tradition of Heidegger's pupil and friend, existential analyst Medard Boss, Hoffman, Yang, Kaklauskas and Chan have initiated an impressive dialogue between Eastern and Western thinkers on existential issues in psychology. Bravo!
~ Betty Cannon, PhD Author of Sartre and Psychoanalysis
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