Aaron Antonovsky

Pioneers of Human Behaviour: Aaron Antonovsky

A Gateway to His Life, Theories, and Legacy

Why do some people stay healthy under relentless stress?
Medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky turned that question into a revolution. Moving medicine from pathogenesis (what makes us sick) to salutogenesis (what creates health), he introduced the Sense of Coherence—comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness—as a practical compass for modern life.

This concise yet powerful volume distils Antonovsky’s life, ideas, and legacy into clear, engaging chapters. From his research on Holocaust survivors to his influence on the World Health Organization, it paints a portrait of a thinker who redefined health as a process of meaning, not just survival.

Alongside an accessible exploration of Antonovsky’s theories, you’ll discover:

• How the Sense of Coherence explains resilience across cultures and generations

• Why health is not the absence of stress, but the ability to find meaning within it

• The story behind Health, Stress, and Coping (1979) and Unraveling the Mystery of Health (1987)

• How his ideas shaped positive psychology, public health, and resilience training

• Practical tools and reflective exercises in the Therapist’s Toolbox to apply coherence in daily life

• The enduring legacy of salutogenesis in modern wellbeing science

Part biography, part theory guide, and part practical reflection, this book reveals how one question—What keeps people well?—sparked a global movement that continues to transform health promotion, therapy, and education today.

The Pioneers of Human Behaviour series explores the thinkers who redefined our understanding of mind, behaviour, and human potential—spanning psychology, neuroscience, education, philosophy, and mindfulness to show how timeless insights improve modern life.