Rise Above

I’m a VERY big fan of Scott Barry Kaufman, and this book only deepened that admiration. Scott is one of the most cited cognitive psychologists in the world, a professor at Columbia University, and a leading voice on intelligence and human potential, but what strikes me most is his depth of wisdom and humanity. In Rise Above, he takes on sensitive topics like shame, trauma, victimhood, and trigger culture with nuance and scientific rigor, showing us how to shift from toxic passivity and toxic agency to grounded empowerment. Drawing from ACT, Maslow, character strengths research, and his own astonishingly Heroic story, he makes the case that life is hard, uncertainty is inevitable, and no one is coming to save you, and that is precisely where your power begins. Big Ideas we explore include Meet Your Guide, WARNING: You Might Have a Case of Life, The #1 Emotional Skill (Life-Acceptance), Healthy Selfishness, and Find the Light Within (Harness Your Strengths).