Loved this....

Having recently been introduced to Irvin Yaloms work, in particular the gift of therapy and liking his style and ease for understanding I thought I'd give this a go and I'm glad I did! Really insightful stories, that have allowed me to reflect more deeply on my own practice and have given me permission to be more authentic in my work. The guy who read the book was excellent, which can be rare on audio books of this nature. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to this book again, but for now, on to loves executioner

5 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Fantastic- I did not want it to end

This audio is riveting. I felt that the beginning was slightly slow and I found it difficult to engage with- but it got better and better the more I listened to it. Not only did I find it interesting but I also found it educational especially since I am a trainee psychologist. I found the indirect and direct teaching Superb. I am looking forward to listening to his next story.

4 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Sublime to the Ridiculous: A Poor Show from Yalom

I really enjoyed the first few stories of this book. However, I felt that it quickly degraded into a series of extremely flat, caricatured and fantasy stories, written in the third person, instead of from the usual vantage point of Yalom himself.

I felt the narration to be slightly off key in parts especially where the reader mimics the female voice. At this point, it felt as though he were mocking the characters - probably not what was intended.

The book, while sublime in parts, landed up giving me a rather tacky, lacklustre finish.

3 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Couldn't stop listening

A fascinating mix of factual and fictional studies. I could not stop listening to this, in the car, in the kitchen, in the bath!

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Great Reflections on Death

I can appreciate how Yalom is not everyone's cup of tea but he's just about the right cuppa for me. I love his humane approach where his work is very much focused on his own feelings about the clients, in the process, and what gets triggered for him (countertransference). He shows how mental health professionals are human too, despite the myth that they all have their lives in order!

This book is really about death, how we deal with it, how it impacts how we live our lives, how it shapes out relationships, and how death is really at the core of everything. I really enjoyed this read from start to finish. However, the book does not keep a steady rhythm, it is a collection of stories, each feeling more unravelled as the book goes on, which may have been intentional given the theme. It ends with a wonderful but completely fantastical story, which is still relevant to the theme and a wonderful metaphor.

For me this is not Yaloms best work but still offers his insight and teachings from start to finish. If you have read any of his earlier work you can notice the difference, there is an increased confidence lets say, in this, that he wouldn't have gotten away with in earlier writings.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

fantastic

v insightful and cleverly written. I'll always be a big Yalom fan. his view of the therapeutic relationship has always been far beyond his time

A bit of a letdown

Perhaps I had too high a hope and set it up for failure, but the self deprecating honesty which oozed out in Love’s executioner was not present here. It felt a little too controlled and I could not connect with this book like I did his previous work.

It did not help that the narrator read this book in either an over animated tone or completely flat.

Iconic book

Very compelling and entertaining stories based on Yalom's own life and patients. Reads as easy as fiction stories, no theory or lingo. Would absolutely recommend to both therapists and everyone interested in honest inner dialogue and workings of therapy. Inspiring and iconic as other books by Yalom like Lying on the Couch as well.

Life changing

I couldn’t put it down ( or rather, I couldn’t take the ear buds out) I immediately want to listen to more from this author.

Second of Dr Yalom’s books heard on Audible

This was such a great listen. Learned a lot and really valued the lessons shared and these experiences that I can value as I work with my own clients.