Creatures of a Day: And Other Tales of Psychotherapy

There are two things that every person will experience: life and death. Both are difficult, to say the least. Almost everyone worries about how to live a fulfilling life and about the unknown inevitability of death. In some cases, this musing can substantially impact an individual’s mental functioning. Thankfully, Dr. Yalom, with his miraculous psychotherapeutic techniques, and his deep philosophical insights, can cure nearly anyone! This latest book tells of the travail and restoration of ten people who struggled with the reality of their mortality. With every page come new introspections, each retelling reveals more of Yalom’s genius therapy techniques and of the human capacity for mental healing and growth.

The book as a whole is simultaneously quite intellectual and astoundingly accessible, which makes it both an ease and a joy to read. I particularly enjoyed Yalom’s explanation for his choice of therapy technique and his descriptions of his reaction to his clients’ questions. Overall, this book is enlightening and fun; it is neither dense or banal, and so it is perfect pleasure reading for anyone interested in psychotherapy.