Thread: What's everyone reading?

Originally Posted by snc128

just finished "the schopenhauer cure" by Irvin D. Yalom

At one time or another, all of us have wondered what we'd do in the face of death. Suddenly confronted with his own mortality after a routine check-up, distinguished psychotherapist Julius Hertzfeld is forced to reexamine his life and work. He feels compelled to contact his patients of long ago. Has he really made an enduring difference in their lives? And what about the patients he failed to help? What has happened to them? Now that he was wiser and riper, can he rescue them yet?

Reaching beyond the safety of his thriving San Francisco practice, Julius feels compelled to seek out Philip Slate, whom he treated for sex addiction some twenty-three years earlier. At that time, Philip's only means of connecting to humans was through brief sexual interludes with countless women, and Julius's therapy did not change that. He meets with Philip who claims to have cured himself-by reading the pessimistic and misanthropic philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer.

Much to Julius's surprise, Philip has become a philosophical counselor and requests that Julius provide him with the supervisory hours he needs to obtain a license to practice. In return, Philip offers to tutor Julius in the work of Schopenhauer. Julius hesitates. How can Philip possibly become a therapist? He is still the same arrogant, uncaring, self-absorbed person he had always been. In fact, in every way he resembles his mentor, Schopenhauer. But eventually they strike a Faustian bargain: Julius agrees to supervise Philip, provided that Philip first join his therapy group. Julius is hoping that six months with the group will address Philip's misanthropy and that by being part of a circle of fellow patients he will develop the relationship skills necessary to become a therapist.

Philip enters the group, but he is more interested in educating the members in Schopenhauer's philosophy-which he claims is all the therapy anyone should need-than he is in their (or his) individual problems. Soon Julius and Philip, using very different therapy approaches, are competing for the hearts and minds of the group members. Is this going to be Julius's swan song-a splintered group and years of good work down the drain? Or will all the members, including Philip, find a way to rise to the occasion that brings with it the potential for extraordinary change.

This novel knits together fact and fiction and contains an accurate portrayal of group therapy in action as well as a presentation of the life and influence of Arthur Schopenhauer, Philip's personal guru and professional inspiration.

That sounds fascinating as hell.

Have you read any Schopenhauer? I've only discovered his Aphorisms and Essays, and thought it was a terrifyingly brilliant collection. Although after reading him firsthand the "misanthropic pessimist" aura about him seems misplaced. Instead, he reads as a paradoxically empathetic and lonely man, I thought. His views on death and suicide, women, and Will in particular all tumble from some sane/insane certainty in his own infallible brooding blessed intellect. Schopenhauer's insatiable appetite for women (consistent with his musings) makes Philip's cure by his philosophy particularly intriguing. I wonder if the author aims to append Arthur's philosphical gravestone?

Anyway, I was sold on the book review. Can't wait to read it.

Originally Posted by FibrillatorD

That sounds fascinating as hell.

Have you read any Schopenhauer? I've only discovered his Aphorisms and Essays, and thought it was a terrifyingly brilliant collection. Although after reading him firsthand the "misanthropic pessimist" aura about him seems misplaced. Instead, he reads as a paradoxically empathetic and lonely man, I thought. His views on death and suicide, women, and Will in particular all tumble from some sane/insane certainty in his own infallible brooding blessed intellect. Schopenhauer's insatiable appetite for women (consistent with his musings) makes Philip's cure by his philosophy particularly intriguing. I wonder if the author aims to append Arthur's philosphical gravestone?

Anyway, I was sold on the book review. Can't wait to read it.

Jeeeez....guy has a birthday and all of a sudden starts using all these multi-syllable words......Sheesh!

Originally Posted by Shamus

Jeeeez....guy has a birthday and all of a sudden starts using all these multi-syllable words......Sheesh!

Yeah, well, if given the chance Schopenhauer would likely tell me and any thespians within my parameter that we're all crazy for not killing ourselves immediately. The self-inflation can be contagious.

Mom said my nose would stop bleeding if I kept my finger out of there.