The Marvel of Martyrdom 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, thebook shows the potential for finding meaning and happiness in helping others.

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.

• 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