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Start giftingThe Marvel of Martyrdom
This audiobook uses AI narration.
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Learn moreThe Marvel of Martyrdom is about how self-sacrifice can change lives and how martyrs can change the world.
The book starts large—with famous and influential martyrs such as Jesus and Gandhi—and ends small—with ordinary people whose own experiences of self-sacrifice give martyrdom its political power. Seeking the developmental origins of self-sacrifice, the book explores children's folklore and the success of mega-hits such as The Matrix and Harry Potter. Seeking the everyday rewards of self-sacrifice, the book shows the potential for finding meaning and happiness in helping others.
The Marvel of Martyrdom takes a broad perspective on self-sacrifice and martyrdom, bringing together religion, popular culture, history, psychology, and mythology. Stories of individuals both famous (Gandhi) and obscure (Rodrigo Rosenberg) intertwine with research on altruism, happiness, and radicalization to terrorism. The changing landscape of the book's setting—from The Roman Empire to nineteenth-century Russia to Nazi Germany to post–World War II India, to present day Ukraine—makes the power of self-sacrifice and martyrdom come alive and shows their potential to change people and cultures.
Clark McCauley is Research Professor of Psychology at Bryn Mawr College, a consultant and reviewer for the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, and a lead investigator with the National Consortium for Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism. He is Founding Editor Emeritus of Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict and a member of the Editorial Boards of Peace and Conflict: The Journal of Peace Psychology and Terrorism and Political Violence.
Sophia Moskalenko is a psychologist who studies terrorism, radicalization, martyrdom, and self-sacrifice. She is a research fellow at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.
Xe Sands is an award-winning narrator known for her authentic characterizations and intimate delivery. She has more than a decade of experience bringing stories to life through narration, performance, and visual art, including recordings of Wonderland by Stacey D'Erasmo, The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro, and Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman. Sands has also been recognized for her engaging romance narrations and was named Most Impressive Narrator Discovery for titles such as Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins and On Thin Ice by Anne Stuart.