Yalom Reader

by Irvin D. Yalom and Ben Yalom

Book Overview

In both his nonfiction and his fiction, Yalom uses the lens of psychotherapy to explore human nature and shows us that the line between the true and the imagined is not always easy to distinguish. What has driven Dr. Yalom from the beginning of his career is a powerful interest in narrative and it is this passion that ties these selections together. It is possible to come to The Yalom Reader from many different perspectives and be richly rewarded. Readers of Dr. Yalom's clinical texts will be intrigued by the fictional entries; general readers will gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the practice of psychotherapy. All will find the mark of a master. Dr. Yalom has written an introductory essay for the Reader, section introductions and three new essays on narrative.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465036104
• ISBN13: 9780465036103
• Release Date: February 1998
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Book is 5 stars, condition 3 stars

This book has been recommended to me multiple times and I finally purchased a copy for my own collection. It is thoughtfully curated and written. The copy I received is in good condition. It contains many dog eared, highlighted, underlined and annotated pages. The handwritten notes are endearing and helpful to me as I continue to study the craft of psychotherapy and counseling. I also found a few pieces of lined paper comprising handwritten notes that appear to correlate with a case-study video. I applaud my fellow student practitioner, and hope they are excelling at helping their clients manifest healing.

Yalom Never Fails to Blow You Away

It really doesn't matter which Yalom book you read, they will never disappoint. He is a true Master in so many ways. He inspired me to write a blog on Becoming Who You Are [...] in case you're interested.

A delightful Yalom read

This is a lighter version of Yalom's books. Very delightful, insightful, and informing about psychotherapy. You gotta love Yalom!

An interesting page turner...

I have read several of Yalom's books, and each of them have been wonderfully written and engaging. This book was a great overview of his previous books, and it makes me want to purchase all of his books. He is a great writer, understandable, and inspiring. A must read for anyone in the counseling field!

Humanistic - Existential Psychotherapy

An Excellent synthesis of Yalom's former publications. Yalom is very easy to read, yet informative. He does not write in the troublesome professional jargon of other psychiatrists. Anyone going into the field of psychotherapy, counseling, social work, etc. should read this book. A great book is one that is informative yet enjoyable at the same time. This work leaves a desire to read all of Yalom's books. I just purchased Existential Psychotherapy and I have already read When Nietzsche Wept and Love's Executioner. From a student in Philosophy looking to go into clinical psychology.

An excellent overview of Yalom's prior work

As a psychologist working in a college counseling center, I found this book to be a useful review of Yalom's prior publications. The first part of the book draws from Yalom's definitive text on group therapy, THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY. In this section, he addresses some of the most salient therapeutic factors to group treatment as well provides vital guidelines for therapists serving as group facilitators. He also describes group therapy with several different types of specialized groups: hospitalized patients, patients addicted to alcohol, the terminally ill, and the bereaved (although this last group was aimed at widows/widowers, I have been able to adapt some of the concepts to my work wtih college students). Part two centers on existential therapy, as Yalom provides excerpts from his previous text by that same name. He spends time examining each of the four ultimate concerns--death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness--and he focuses particularly on death and anxiety in psychotherapy. In the final section of the book, Yalom espouses on psychology and writing, and he reviews his journey from therapist to fiction writer. Yalom is a thoughtful and engaging writer who provides intelligent insights into some of the most critical areas of psychotherapy in this enjoyable and important book.