The Yalom Reader Selections from the Works of the Distinguished Psychotherapist and Novelist

Description

In this collection of some of Irvin Yalom’s most influential writings, the reader will encounter the full range of his work—from serious, clinically-oriented essays and theoretical, abstract reflections, to his literary fiction. Yalom begins the book with a candid and informative autobiographical introduction, followed by three distinct sections: “Group Psychotherapy,” “Existential Psychotherapy,” and “On Writing.” The structure of this book mirrors Yalom’s professional trajectory in many respects. The selections included range from his academic textbooks and specialized research on existential group therapy to previously unpublished case studies, as well as excerpts from his story collection *Love’s Executioner* and his novels *When Nietzsche Wept* and *Lying on the Couch*. Dr. Yalom has written new introductions for each of these works, reflecting on the evolution of his career and his thinking since their original publication. Throughout his body of work—whether in his non-fiction or his fiction—Yalom employs the lens of psychotherapy to explore human nature, demonstrating that the line between the real and the imagined is not always easily discerned. Dr. Yalom’s profound interest in narrative and fiction-writing has been a driving force throughout his career—a passion that serves as the common thread uniting this collection. Readers from various backgrounds and perspectives will find much to gain from this volume.