"This highly engaging book is a must-read for both theorists and practitioners who have professional and/or personal interests in the true nature of human motivation and its implications for instructional and clinical practices. Dr. Hoffman delves into the neurological processes that underlie and help explain the biological and environmental influences on what people do and don't do. In the process, he critiques theories of motivation that have historically been derived largely from self-report questionnaires and observations of human behavior, noting the inherent methodological and analytical weaknesses of such research studies. He offers alternative frameworks that might more accurately explain the very complex, multifaceted, and interactive processes that drive human beings to do what they do. He follows up with well-grounded implications for helping others not only to acquire new knowledge and perspectives but also to revise existing misunderstandings that can interfere with optimal performance in real-world settings."

Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Psychological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado