Soul on fire : Martin Luther King Jr and the psychology of nonviolence / Nassir Ghaemi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ghaemi, S. Nassir, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968--Psychology.

King, Martin Luther.

King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.

African Americans--Civil rights.

African Americans.

Civil rights workers--United States--Biography.

Civil rights workers.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies

Biographies.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2026]

Summary:

Martin Luther King Jr. was not only a visionary leader in the struggle against racism and injustice, but also a complex individual who grappled with clinical depression and exhibited manic personality traits. Drawing on expert interpretations, Soul on Fire reveals how these psychological states may have deepened his capacity for leadership and moral clarity. The book offers a compelling exploration of the psychology of nonviolence, framing it as a politics of radical empathy. By tracing King's psychological journey throughout his life and career, readers gain a richer understanding of the foundations behind his commitment to nonviolent social change.

'Soul on Fire' is a psychological biography of Martin Luther King Jr. It examines King's life and thought in order to explore two central themes: first, the notion that many aspects of manic and depressive symptoms can actually help a person be a more successful leader, especially in crises; and, second, the idea that by understanding King through the lens of his moods, we can gain keen new insights into the core of his nonviolent philosophy, as a politics of radical empathy. New historical documentation in this book demonstrates that King experienced clinical depression and likely had manic traits as part of his personality. His life and experiences highlight how such psychiatric states can help a great leader, and how the psychology of nonviolence can be better understood as based on empathy toward one's opponents.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

A Personal Timeline

Part I MLK from the Inside

1 Maladjusted

Notes

2 War on Sleep

3 "Expecting Great Things"

4 Years of Glory

5 "His Ability Exceeds His Record"

6 Years of Suffering

7 Boston Years

8 "Shattered Dreams"

9 In the Kitchen

10 The Promised Land

Part II The Psychology of Nonviolence

11 A Politics of Radical Empathy

12 A Psychology of Nonviolence

13 Love Your Enemies

14 The Hero in History

15 Nonviolence in a Postmodern World

16 Nonviolent Intifada

17 Where Does the Anger Go?

18 "The Loneliest Minority of All"

Malcolm X

Bayard Rustin

James Meredith

James Bevel

Dr. William Anderson

Dr. Arthur Logan

Benjamin Van Clark

A. D. King

Henry Arrington

John Wilson

Walter Fauntroy

Stokely Carmichael

Vernon Johns

William Lewis Moore

Conclusion

19 Coda

Appendix 1 A Psychiatric Primer on Depression and Mania

Note

Appendix 2 On Psychological History

A Note to the Reader

Acknowledgments and a Playlist

A Playlist for Soul on Fire

Sources and References

Index.

Notes.

13 Love Your Enemies

Note.

Appendix 2 On Psychological History

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (Oxford Academic, viewed on August 14, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version : Ghaemi, S. Nassir. Soul on fire.

ISBN:

9780197657614

0197657613

OCLC:

1582164348

Publisher Number:

CIPO000370871