Becoming Myself

Buchzusammenfassung

Irvin D. Yalom is an American psychotherapist and professor emeritus of psychiatry at Stanford University known for his significant contributions to existential psychotherapy. He has written several best-selling fiction and non-fiction books, including The Spinoza Problem, The Schopenhauer Cure, and When Nietzsche Wept.

As a teenager, Yalom experienced a pivotal moment when his mother accused him of causing his father’s chest pains, straining their relationship permanently. Raised in Washington, DC, by hardworking Russian immigrant parents, Yalom found relief in leaving for medical school at 22, though he regretted never repairing the rift with his parents. His wife, Marilyn, whom he met at 15, became his anchor, helping him build a vibrant family life that contrasted with his upbringing. A defining night at age 14, when his father suffered chest pains, inspired Yalom’s pursuit of medicine, influenced by the calming presence of their family doctor, Dr. Manchester. Despite facing anti-Semitic quotas in medical schools, Yalom persevered, eventually excelling at Boston University Medical School. His passion for literature, nurtured since childhood through weekly library visits, remained private until he began writing narrative works like *Every Day Gets a Little Closer* in 1974, blending psychiatry and storytelling. At Stanford, Yalom revolutionized group therapy and pioneered existential therapy, addressing themes like mortality and meaning, while integrating these ideas into mainstream literature. Approaching his nineties, Yalom reflects on his struggles with mortality, the losses he has endured, and the peace he now finds in his work and passions, continuing to refine his craft as both a writer and a therapist.

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