The Relational Being starts from a critique of the individualistic tradition, in which the rational subject or the autonomous self is considered the fundamental individual of social life. Addressing both professionals and the academic community, Kenneth Gergen develops and elucidates a much more innovative and potentially exciting landscape of relational thoughts and practices. He shapes a space of understanding in which relational processes take precedence and the very concept of the individual follows. In general, the book attempts to develop a thorough relational description of human activity.

According to Gergen, meaning emerges from synchronous action – or synergy – and, therefore, all that we consider to be real, rational, and valuable depends on the well-being of our relationships. Gergen redefines "the mind" as an expression of relationships and demonstrates these ideas in everyday life and professional practices, including psychotherapy, collaborative classes, and the development of corporate and other organizations. He critically examines the idea of mental illness and focuses on therapy as a way to promote relational recovery. He also explores the ways in which what we call "knowledge" arises from communities rather than from an individual mind or individual cognition. The book concludes with a groundbreaking exploration of moral action and spirituality.