Book cover of Lack & Transcendence: The Problem of Death and Life in Psychotherapy, Existentialism, and Buddhism

Book description

Loy draws from giants of psychotherapy and existentialism, from Nietzsche to Kierkegaard to Sartre, to explore the fundamental issues of life, death, and what motivates us.

Whatever the differences in their methods and goals, psychotherapy, existentialism, and Buddhism are all concerned with the same fundamental issues of life and death—and…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Lack & Transcendence as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Loy's path has been unusual. He is an American who studied Zen in Hawaii and is now a Zen teacher in Japan and a professor at a Japanese University. In this book, he adds existentialism to his study of Buddhism and psychotherapy. His thinking was key for me on my own path of becoming a psychologist. The main lesson I took from him is the importance of how the feeling of lack affects our understanding of what death and nothingness mean to us. He also discusses the meaning of compassion in Buddhism, something that informed my own understanding of how…

If you love Lack & Transcendence...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like Lack & Transcendence?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Lack & Transcendence.

Browse books like Lack & Transcendence

Book cover of Psychoanalysis and Buddhism: An Unfolding Dialogue
Book cover of The Couch and the Tree: Dialogues in Psychoanalysis and Buddhism
Book cover of Psychotherapy Without the Self: A Buddhist Perspective

Share your top 3 reads of 2026!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

134

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Lack & Transcendence, you might also like...

Book cover of Never Let Her Go

Never Let Her Go by Jane Tesh,

PI David Randall is not a fan of singer Sherry White, but when he learns she has received threatening letters, he agrees to help with security for her concerts in Parkland.

When Sherry’s personal psychic quits, Randall enlists Camden to help Sherry deal with her stage fright. Randall’s investigation is…

Book cover of Trudy, Madly, Deeply

Trudy, Madly, Deeply by Wendy Delaney,

Human lie detector, Charmaine Digby, is psyched to put her ability to the test as the County Coroner's new investigative assistant. But she sure never expected she’d need it to solve a murder! Not until she got her first assignment. Interview the hunky doctor reporting the suspicious death of Trudy,…

5 book lists we think you will like!