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This is the first book tackling the topic of world suffering. It compiles in one place the ideas, perspectives, and findings of researchers from around the world who pioneered research-based understanding of human suffering. Some chapters use the paradigm of ´quality of life´ to explore ways to enhance knowledge on suffering. Other chapters show how concepts and knowledge from suffering research can benefit studies on quality of life.

By bringing together in one volume, ideas and research experience from the best minds and leading researchers in the fields of pain, suffering, poverty, deprivation, disability and quality of life (including well-being and happiness), this volume advances social science solutions to a number of major threads of research, most notably suffering. As a whole, the volume advances the fields of suffering and deprivation by suggesting a working typology of suffering and by pointing out the major paradigms for relief of suffering, such as humanitarianism, human rights, caring, and healing. This volume provides a wealth of insights about the interaction between suffering and quality of life, the most up-to-date characterization of worldwide suffering, and a grasp of the implications of these data for local and global policy on health and social well-being.

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Ronald (Ron) E. Anderson is emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota. His legacy includes seven books, over 100 articles, 150 presentations at professional meetings, 15 large research grants, and at least 40 consulting positions. Most of his work has related to technology applications or impact and he was the first Chair of the ASA microcomputer group that later changed its name to CITASA. In 2009, he established the Foundation for Compassionate Societies, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, its principle mission being to foster compassion around the world and to maintain the website CompassionateSocieties.org. For two decades, he coordinated research on information technology in K-12 education in over 25 countries. Dr. Anderson, as the United States National Research Coordinator for the IEA Computers in Education study, secured a large grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct that assessment in 1992. With Henry Becker, he received funding for the "Teaching, Learning and Computing" which included a nationwide survey of K-12 schools and teachers in 1998. Professor Anderson served on the International Steering Committee for the IEA computer and technology studies from 1990 to 2007, co-chairing it for half that time. Dr. Anderson was invited to give numerous presentations on national as well as international aspects of these international technology studies. Many of these presentations were to the National Academy of Sciences Board on Com

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