A Non-Obvious Book Awards honoree exploring dark tourism, psychology, and personal healing—showing how confronting dark history can spark meaning and hope

Exploration isn’t only about geography — it’s also about the human heart. I’m deeply honored that The Non-Obvious Company recognized the value in that message.”
— Chad Scott, PhD

DULUTH, MN, UNITED STATES, December 4, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Psychotherapist, educator, and author Dr. Chad Scott has been recognized by The Non-Obvious Company’s Non-Obvious Book Awards for his acclaimed work Beyond the Darkness: Transformative Journeys Through Dark Tourism, named among the Top 100 nonfiction books of 2025. The honor places Beyond the Darkness alongside titles by James Patterson, Chef José Andrés, and Steven Pinker as one of the year’s most thought-provoking nonfiction books.

Presented annually by The Non-Obvious Company, the awards celebrate books that make readers think differently about the world and highlight ideas that inspire curiosity, empathy, and understanding. Hundreds of nonfiction titles are evaluated each year for originality, quality, and impact. The 2025 longlist showcases works that bring forward “non-obvious ideas”—fresh perspectives that expand how we see humanity and its stories.

“I’m deeply honored that The Non-Obvious Company recognized the value in this message,” said Dr. Chad Scott. “Exploration isn’t only about geography—it’s also about the human heart.”

Written as both memoir and exploration, Beyond the Darkness chronicles Scott’s global travels through places marked by tragedy while also tracing his own journey of recovery—from life-threatening illness and a liver transplant to overcoming divorce, anxiety, and struggles with alcohol. Each destination became a mirror reflecting grief, endurance, and the will to heal. Through this personal lens, Scott reveals how confronting the world’s darkest histories can help illuminate one’s own path toward meaning and renewal.

The book takes readers through sites like Auschwitz, Hiroshima, Ground Zero, and the catacombs of Paris. Drawing on his experiences as a psychotherapist, aviator, and traveler, Scott examines how visiting places of tragedy—a practice known as “dark tourism”—can serve as a path to healing, empathy, and self-understanding rather than mere curiosity about death.

The book features a foreword by Dr. Philip R. Stone, Director of the Institute for Dark Tourism Research (iDTR) at the University of Lancashire and widely regarded as the world’s leading scholar on dark tourism. In his foreword, Dr. Stone contextualizes Scott’s work within the wider academic and cultural study of dark tourism, acknowledging its contribution to public understanding of how we engage with places of death and disaster. His inclusion lends the book scholarly depth and credibility, bridging the conversation between academic research and personal exploration.

Critics have praised Beyond the Darkness for its depth, originality, and earnest voice. K.C. Finn, USA Today best-selling author, called it “a powerful and personal journey—and a highly recommended must-read for fans of meaningful travel writing and reflective memoirs. With a rare and courageous blend of scholarship and insight, Dr. Chad Scott never loses sight of the human cost at the heart of these iconic places.”

Kirkus Reviews, one of the publishing industry’s most respected outlets, described the book as “a powerful and often gripping guided tour through some of humanity’s dark places,” noting that “Scott transforms his visits to troubling destinations into opportunities for personal growth.” The publication also awarded the book its “GET IT” verdict, a strong endorsement reserved for titles they recommend readers seek out.

The San Francisco Book Review wrote: “A powerful journey through history’s shadows, Beyond the Darkness explores how places marked by tragedy can reveal unexpected paths to healing. With raw honesty and deep empathy, Dr. Chad Scott connects dark tourism to personal transformation, weaving together themes of grief, resilience, and meaning. This is a rare and unforgettable exploration of how honoring the past helps us understand ourselves.”

Beyond the Darkness has resonated widely for its rare balance of compassion and critical thought. Scott’s writing combines the precision of a clinician with the vulnerability of a traveler seeking meaning. Whether describing the silence of Auschwitz’s crematoriums or the solemn beauty of Arlington National Cemetery, his prose invites readers to see tragedy not as spectacle but as a reflection of shared humanity. Early readers have described the book as Man’s Search for Meaning meets Anthony Bourdain—a fusion of psychological depth and immersive exploration that reframes dark tourism as a path to healing, empathy, and insight.

The recognition from The Non-Obvious Company underscores the book’s growing impact. Founded by bestselling author and trend curator Rohit Bhargava, The Non-Obvious Company celebrates works that illuminate overlooked ideas and challenge assumptions. The Non-Obvious Book Awards have become one of the most respected independent programs highlighting nonfiction that expands awareness across fields ranging from psychology and culture to science and social change.

Whitefox Publishing Ltd., which released Beyond the Darkness in London, noted that the recognition reflects the book’s growing impact among both general readers and professionals. The award highlights how Dr. Scott’s work bridges academic insight with emotional storytelling, connecting psychological depth and human experience in a way that resonates across disciplines and cultures.

For Scott, the recognition affirms the central message that remembrance and reflection are essential to personal and collective healing. “Dark tourism isn’t just about death,” he writes. “It’s about life—about seeing in tragedy the fragile beauty of existence, and realizing that remembrance is a sacred form of love.”

Beyond the Darkness continues to gain recognition among readers, scholars, and professionals in mental health and cultural studies. Its integration of psychological insight, historical awareness, and moral reflection offers a new lens for understanding how people make meaning out of suffering.

Based in Minnesota, Dr. Chad Scott, Ph.D., has spent over two decades integrating clinical practice with extensive global travel. His work explores the psychological dimensions of memory, grief, and renewal, emphasizing emotional growth through empathy, reflection, and lived experience.

Beyond the Darkness: Transformative Journeys Through Dark Tourism is published by Whitefox Publishing Ltd. and available in paperback, audiobook, and Kindle formats through major booksellers and online retailers worldwide.

Check out the full longlist on our website and join us on Tuesday, December 16th at 11am EST for our live announcement of the shortlist winners and our top five books of the year. Learn more at: nonobviousbookawards.com/2025

Media inquiries: Please contact Dr. Chad Scott directly through DrChadScott.com or by email at [email protected]

Chad Scott
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