zade 's review for:

Creatures of a Day: And Other Tales of Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom

4.0

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Confession: I love Irvin Yalom. I've never met the man and never will. I have no idea if his real-life persona is the same as the one he creates in his books. But the Yalom of his books is one of the kindest, most compassionate, witty, intelligent, and humble people I've encountered. This meditation on mortality, in the form of ten case-studies from his psychiatric practice, is thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful, despite it's focus on the fact that we are, all of us, dying every day. Yalom's background as a proponent of Existential Therapy clearly shapes his perspectives and approaches to the problems his patients present, but what is most striking is the feeling of deep caring that infuses his interactions, even with those patients who frustrate and annoy him.

For anyone practicing psychotherapy, this book gives a wonderful insight into one very talented man's unorthodox approach to the profession. For anyone considering psychotherapy, this book provides a glimpse of how a caring therapist might operate, although only a very few people will be fortunate enough to find someone even close to Yalom's skill. For the rest of us, the book is a thoughtful, humorous, and ultimately helpful meditation on facing our own mortality and the many ways we attempt to avoid or alleviate the anxieties death creates in us.