The Schopenhauer Cure: A Novel

I found it hard to put this book down. I read it in evey spare moment, until it was finished. Philosophy often poses the queston, 'how should we live'. The beauty of this novel, is it weaves many different perspectives on this question. Firstly it has the lives of the characters in the theapy group. How they are attempting to change themselves based on the fact that, how they act in a therapy group situation, is how they will act in the real world. If they can analyse and change, how they act in the group they can identify their problems and combat them. Secondly Yalom uses a character Philip Slate as modern day version of Arthur Schopenhauer. He becomes a mouthpiece for the philosophy of Schopenhauer, focusing on how Schopenhauer thought we should live and his pessimistic account of human existence. To add a futher dimension, biographical accounts of Schopenhauer's life are added and selected quotes begin each chapter. Although certain view-points are seen more sympathetically than others, different characters expess doubt and alternative opinions. We are not just force-fed Schopenhauers bleak opinions. I think that the book does two things, firstly it criticises psychotherapy for ignoring the fagitily and inherent weakness/ anxieties of the human condition. Our proplems are not all the result of individual neurosises. At the same time it highlights the fact that philosophical speculation on how we should live and how we view the world are heavily influenced by individual concerns, and personal past-experiences. This is just an overview, its well worth reading the book to find as it touches on subjects relevant to everyone. Yalom has created a book that any mere biped can understand, but leaves no easy answers.

A friend who shares her reading opinions with me (and I with her) recommended this book to me. I thought it was fascinating and illuminating and couldn't put it down. The book deals with Julius, a psychotherapist, and his confrontation with his impending death, and with his last year with his intensive therapy group. I have since then started to read everything Irvin Yalom has written, which has moved me onto reading Schopenhaur and Nietzsche, which had the spin off effect of deciding to go into therapy! I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in philosophy and psychotherapy.Yalom has an easy going way of melding both which draws the non professional into the group therapy situation and its human dramas.

As usual with Yalom's work, I was gripped from the start by this novel and read compulsively. Yalom is a master storyteller and narrator. I very much enjoyed this offering. Nevertheless, I have the feeling that the massive character assassination (contained within) of the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer is a little unfair. Yalom himself paints a picture of dedicated and supportive Schopenhauer followers including the loyal executor of Schopenhauer's will. If Schopenhauer was so unattractive in all things (superior, isolated, extremely pessimistic, humourless and misanthropic) how come he had any followers? On finishing Yalom's novel I downloaded the entire works of Schopenhauer on Kindle (49p) and began reading his preface to his first edition of: 'The World as Will and Idea' (1819). I was astounded to find it contained a very good (barbed) joke that had me laughing out loud. So not so humourless then? I will keep reading and currently I'm prepared to give the bad press on Schopenhauer's character the benefit of some doubt.

Yalom as always amazes with his ability to bring together philosophy, psychology and history. Add his ability to come up with a fictional environment and a well-researched content, you won't be disappointed.

Love this book. Insightful combination of psychology and philosophy

Yet another great boon From Irvine Yalom.

As with Yalom's other novels, you learn a lot from this one - about Schopenhauer, about group therapy and perhaps especially about yourself - while being regally entertained. Highly recommended!

I have recommended it to several friends as well, and even though they are not therapists themselves they really enjoyed it.

For phycology lovers and critical thinking, easy to read, will remember forever

Comme dans plusieurs de ses livres, Irvin Yalom réussit magistralement à combiner une intrigue psychologique intense et une philosophie passionnante, en l'occurrence celle d'Arthur Schopenhauer, penseur pessimiste et pourtant tout à fait stimulant. Yalom y montre à la fois son exceptionnelle connaissance des ressorts cachés des sentiments, des émotions, des attitudes des hommes et des femmes et ses grandes qualités de pédagogue. Si la philosophie était toujours enseignée avec une telle clarté et un tel souci d'en faire passer l'essentiel, tout le monde voudrait entrer dans le club des philosophes. Mais ce livre est d'abord un grand roman avec des personnages que le lecteur n'est pas près d'oublier. Une bonne connaissance de l'anglais est nécessaire pour apprécier vraiment ce livre dans sa version originale.

... yet, this book is still a page turner. A novel, and part fiction, indeed, yet the parts based on true life events are not limited to Schopenhauer's life. Just finished reading it for the third time in about ten years. I believe I read all that Yalom wrote including his recent autobiography (except for his academic writings) and the wonderful, nonfiction, The Gift of Therapy. A psychiatrist (MD) with a lifelong interest in literature, leaving the modern neurotransmitter regulating drugs to others, Yalom dedicates his life to practicing and teaching group and individual psychotherapy, the existential kind, if such a thing is admissible, and attacks with full force the varied neuroses that trouble the modern town-dweller human beings.. The stage is the living room in the main protagonist's house with seven or eight chairs where a well functioning group meets regularly for support and therapy. Most of the action of the novel does, and indeed mostly did, happen outside, and it includes flashbacks to Schopenhauer's life as well as a trip by one of the members of the therapy group to modern day India to the ashram of famous vipassana guru Goenka. If you'd like to understand what goes on in the minds of many of us, how we relate, or not, to others, how we make up so much of our own suffering by keeping others away from us, and how, at the end, forgiveness, not in the common sense of pardon that assumes and accepts crime and pretends superior morality, but, in the Socratic sense, that we all do wrong when we don't know any better, gives us everything we need, read this book. It might provide you the support group you may not have readily available and change your life. And if not, it will give you enough pointers to go and relate to everybody in your circle in a more open, authentic and healing way..

Molto interessante

Kitap kapağından fotoğraftaki gibi yarım ayrı geldi.