Chapter 1. An Invitation Chapter 2. Jesus without miracles Chapter 3. The Psychology of Altruism Chapter 4. The Psychology of Happiness: Was Jesus Right? Chapter 5. Harry, Frodo, and Neo Chapter 6. Curious Coincidences Chapter 7. The Mahatma Chapter 8. Andrej Sakharov, a failed martyr Chapter 9. Fake Martyrs: Horst Wessel and Rodrigo Rosenberg Chapter 10. Martyr Versus Terrorist Chapter 11. The Threat of Suicide Terrorism Chapter 12. Invoking the Name Chapter 13. Fairy-Tale Science: The Developmental Origins of Self-Sacrifice Chapter 14. In Martyrs We Trust Chapter 15. Bringing Us Together Chapter 16. Breaking Us Apart Chapter 17. Bread Crumbs and Parting Gifts

"The Marvel of Martyrdom tells a remarkable story about what martyrdom is... and what it isn't. Combining insights from psychology, from imaginative literature, from religion, and from careful analysis of contemporary world events, this book shows us what a powerful tool for social change martyrdom can be, and how easily we can confuse true martyrs, who are rare, with imposters, who are commonplace. After reading this book, you will see the world differently." -- Barry Schwartz, Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action, Swarthmore College, and author of Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing and Why We Work? "This book is fantastic. Martyrdom, blasphemy, sacrilege... these concepts all need to be brought into the social sciences if we are to understand the strange and violent events rocking our world." -- Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, Stern School of Business, New York University, and author of The Righteous Mind "Stories of self-sacrifice stand tall among drivers of social and political change. They capture our attention and imagination. They fascinate and inspire us. In their comprehensive and wonderfully-crafted exploration of self-sacrifice and martyrdom, Moskalenko and McCauley delve into the science of the human capacity to sacrifice for those we love, for those causes we hold dear, often at tremendous personal cost. Through a series of carefully selected cases, The Marvel of Martyrdom takes us on an incredible journey. It's a must-read." -- Anthony F. Lemieux, Director of the Global Studies Institute, Georgia State University "This book shows how the political power of martyrdom depends on the extent to which normal human beings learn the rewards of self-sacrifice. Martyrdom is revealed as the shining peak of a mountain of everyday self-sacrifice, a mountain obscured by Western devotion to models of human behavior dictated by self-interest. Read this book for a brilliant analysis and for a more positive view: we are happier to the extent that we are unselfish." -- Ifat Maoz, Head of the Department of Communications and Journalism, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem "Innovative and compelling" -- Choice

Selling point: The first systematic effort to understand the political power of martyrdom Selling point: Argues that suicide bombers are not martyrs, and characterizing them as such damages the social fabric of the Western world Selling point: The authors show that Russian leaders have used a deft understanding of the psychology of martyrdom and victimhood in their propaganda tactics, particularly in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine Selling point: Offers a new theory, based on studies by criminologists, psychologists, and economists, of how and when peaceful protest can turn overnight into regime-toppling revolution

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. 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.

Selling point: The first systematic effort to understand the political power of martyrdom Selling point: Argues that suicide bombers are not martyrs, and characterizing them as such damages the social fabric of the Western world Selling point: The authors show that Russian leaders have used a deft understanding of the psychology of martyrdom and victimhood in their propaganda tactics, particularly in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine Selling point: Offers a new theory, based on studies by criminologists, psychologists, and economists, of how and when peaceful protest can turn overnight into regime-toppling revolution