In this thought-provoking addition to the Herzliya Series on Personality and Social Psychology, editors Phillip R. Shaver and Mario Mikulincer have gathered a varied group of international thinkers to investigate existential concerns within a framework that is both philosophical and practical.

Theorists examine the nature of universal themes such as the importance of personal choice and human autonomy in an arbitrary world, and the vital roles of parenthood and religion in providing solace against the threat of meaninglessness. And clinicians discuss the use of various cognitive behavioral therapies, emphasizing the mind’s propensity to assign value in ways that can be either maladaptive or liberating.

The authors build upon insights from previous chapters, resulting in a cohesive book filled with cutting-edge research.