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A review by yooperann
When Nietzsche Wept by Irvin D. Yalom
4.0
I had never heard of this book when it was chosen for one of my book groups. The cover discouraged me, subtitling the book as "a novel of obsession" and including a blurb stating that it was "A shrewd intellectual thriller."
Fortunately my sense of duty to my book group made me push through my reluctance. Obsession is certainly a theme of the novel, but not the central one, and although it's shrewd and intellectual as hell, I think anyone looking for a thriller would be disappointed.
What it is is the story on a few months in the life of Josef Breuer--months in which he meets and treats, and is treated by, Friedrich Nietzsche. Breuer is beginning to explore psychoanalysis. Nietzsche suffers from migraines and despair. They circle around each other warily, but ultimately develop a deep and honest friendship, which enriches, and saves, them both.
I confess to never having read Nietzsche, so can't speak to whether that would enrich or detract from the book. But I'm certainly now tempted to do so.
Immediately after finishing the book, I gave it five stars. I've now removed one, because after reflection I realize that the sudden happy ending is a bit contrived.
Fortunately my sense of duty to my book group made me push through my reluctance. Obsession is certainly a theme of the novel, but not the central one, and although it's shrewd and intellectual as hell, I think anyone looking for a thriller would be disappointed.
What it is is the story on a few months in the life of Josef Breuer--months in which he meets and treats, and is treated by, Friedrich Nietzsche. Breuer is beginning to explore psychoanalysis. Nietzsche suffers from migraines and despair. They circle around each other warily, but ultimately develop a deep and honest friendship, which enriches, and saves, them both.
I confess to never having read Nietzsche, so can't speak to whether that would enrich or detract from the book. But I'm certainly now tempted to do so.
Immediately after finishing the book, I gave it five stars. I've now removed one, because after reflection I realize that the sudden happy ending is a bit contrived.