First there was the "gifted child," then the "inner child." Now in an eloquent and inspiring new work, Lillian Rubin, bestselling author of Worlds of Pain and Intimate Strangers, brings us The Transcendent Child.

She starts with a question few psychologists have asked, yet one that goes to the heart of our beliefs about character, growth, and our ability to learn from experience: How is it that some people manage to transcend even the most harsh and painful past? For the answer, Dr. Rubin turns to the life stories of adults who as children suffered the worst kinds of family and social pathology, yet found the path to rich and satisfying mature lives.

There are no miraculous rebirths here, no otherworldly revelations, no clean slate on which a new life is cast. These adult lives are forged directly out of their past whose torments and wounds have left scars that sometimes make themselves felt in the present. But the same strength and determination that helped these people survive the trials of childhood also enable them to flourish in adulthood.

In this important book, Lillian Rubin not only takes us deep into the lives of her subjects; she develops a theory that significantly enlarges and enriches our understanding of human development. In showing us how it is possible to overcome past privations, she offers hope and strength to those who are struggling to make a life in the face of adversity.