McAdams’s The Redemptive Self Published In his new book The Redemptive Self: Stories American Live By, human development and social policy professor Dan McAdams reveals how the motif of redemption distinguishes the life stories of especially caring and productive Americans.Adults who tell a redemptive story tap into a stream of unique inspiration and sustenance in the rich store of redemptive tales that American culture offers. The stories of upward mobility, recovery, fulfillment and release that come from Hollywood, 12-step programs, self-help experts, political speeches, business gurus and Oprah can trace their roots directly to the autobiographies of Massachusetts Puritans, Benjamin Franklin and escaped African-American slaves. Based on 10 years of research, The Redemptive Self explores the psychological and cultural dynamics of the stories Americans tell to make sense of who they are. Among the most eloquent tellers of redemptive stories are those midlife adults who are especially committed to their careers, their families and making a positive difference in the world. These highly "generative" men and women embrace the negative things that happen to them, for it is by transforming the bad into good that they are able to move forward in life and ultimately leave something positive behind. But can every American find redemption in his or her life? Some people seem unable to mold their life into a redemptive tale. Moreover, might there be a dark side to the redemptive stories Americans love? For all their strengths, redemptive stories sometimes fail, and sometimes suggest important failings in the way Americans see themselves and the world. The Redemptive Self, published by Oxford University Press and available at bookstores nationwide, encourages us to examine our lives and our stories in full, to apprehend both the good and the bad in the stories we live by. By doing so, we may fashion better stories and better lives for the future. Excerpts from advance reviews:  "The Redemptive Self is an elegant masterpiece that dramatically integrates psychology into the realm of human affairs - a memorable book that readers will recommend to their friends.” —Bertram J. Cohler, William Rainey Harper Professor at the University of Chicago “McAdams constructs a compelling story of his own by drawing on philosophy, history, neuroscience, religion, and psychology. As with his other books, this is a great read." —James W. Pennebaker, author of Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions "McAdams has produced a book that shows what is distinctive about Americans' stories--and what is wonderful and also not so wonderful about that distinction. It is a book that can be read for pleasure and insight by psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, and historians, but also by just about anyone who would like to know what it is that distinguishes Americans from others in the rest of the world. I recommend the book highly and with enthusiasm." —Robert J. Sternberg, IBM Professor of Psychology and Education, Yale University and past president, American Psychological Association Read more about The Redemptive Self and comments from Dan McAdams. Updated October 5, 2005  E-mail this story
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