This is an intellectual biography of Max Wertheimer (1880-1943) whose ideas are recognized as of central importance to fields as varied as social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, problem solving, art, and visual neuroscience.

Wertheimer's everyday life in America during his last decade is well documented, based in part on his son's recollections. The early reception of Gestalt theory in the United States is examined, with extensive references to articles in professional journals and periodicals. Wertheimer's relationships and interaction with three prominent psychologists of the time, Edwin G. Boring, Clark L. Hull, and Alexander Luria, are discussed, based on unpublished correspondence. The final chapters discuss Wertheimer's essays on democracy, freedom, ethics, and truth, and detail personal challenges Wertheimer faced during his last years. His major work, published after his death, is Productive Thinking. Its reception is examined, and a concluding chapter considers the legacy of Max Wertheimer and Gestalt theory in the decades since his death. This intellectual biography will be of interest to psychologists and readers interested in science, modern European history, and the Holocaust.