Irvin D. Yalom: The Schopenhauer Cure (2006)
English language
Published Jan. 3, 2006
The Schopenhauer Cure is a 2005 novel by Irvin D. Yalom, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University, an existentialist, and psychotherapist The story takes place around group therapies coordinated by Julius Hertzfeld and the influence and participation of a former patient, Philip Slate:
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. The book uses novelties in the world of psychiatry and psychology, with the addition of the philosophy of German 19th-century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, who claims that "to live is to suffer", inciting the self-knowledge of …
The Schopenhauer Cure is a 2005 novel by Irvin D. Yalom, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University, an existentialist, and psychotherapist The story takes place around group therapies coordinated by Julius Hertzfeld and the influence and participation of a former patient, Philip Slate:
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. The book uses novelties in the world of psychiatry and psychology, with the addition of the philosophy of German 19th-century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, who claims that "to live is to suffer", inciting the self-knowledge of each individual. The reader is also presented with descriptions attempting to piece together the life of Arthur Schopenhauer:
Arthur's father, Heinrich, was tormented by his son's interests. The headmaster of Arthur's school had informed him that his son had a passion for philosophy, was exceptionally suited for the life of a scholar, and would do well to transfer to a gymnasium which would prepare him for the university. In his heart, Heinrich may have sensed the correctness of the schoolmaster's advice; his son's voracious consumption and comprehension of all works of philosophy, history, and literature in the extensive Schopenhauer library was readily apparent.
Read this book on recommendation and appreciated the journey through Schopenhauer (who I've not read) and modern group therapy.
Half "Novel of Dying Group Therapist," and Half "Biography of Schopenhauer"
I like Irvin D. Yalom's approach to writing, with his background in therapy and psychoanalysis.
Half of the book is about a dying group therapist, his therapy group, and one man who seemed to be a lost cause to a unrelenting sex drive. Reaching back out, he finds that the man seems to be cured, but not because of the years of work done with our protagonist -- no, it's because of the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer.
The other half of the book, which it alternates into every-other-chapter, is about the life and philosophy of Schopenhauer himself. He was quite a pessimist, and if you look him up, you can see from his face that his is likely a cranky pessimist. His views on women are delved into, his failed attempts at relationships, his terrible relationship with his mother, …
Half "Novel of Dying Group Therapist," and Half "Biography of Schopenhauer"
I like Irvin D. Yalom's approach to writing, with his background in therapy and psychoanalysis.
Half of the book is about a dying group therapist, his therapy group, and one man who seemed to be a lost cause to a unrelenting sex drive. Reaching back out, he finds that the man seems to be cured, but not because of the years of work done with our protagonist -- no, it's because of the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer.
The other half of the book, which it alternates into every-other-chapter, is about the life and philosophy of Schopenhauer himself. He was quite a pessimist, and if you look him up, you can see from his face that his is likely a cranky pessimist. His views on women are delved into, his failed attempts at relationships, his terrible relationship with his mother, etc. His writing ultimately reflects these, but many other aspects of his philosophy are incredibly insightful when it comes to the human condition, biological drive, and suffering.
Schopenhauer deeply influenced philosophy that came after him, and his work will not be forgotten.
“Would you wiling to repeat the precise life you have lived again and again throughout eternity?”
Being confronted with cancer and his own death the psychotherapist Julius Hertzferd, try to re-examine his life and work. For reasons that he cannot clearly understands he seeks out Philip Slate, a sex-addict and old patient, which he failed to help. Philip, now a doctor of philosophy, claims to have been cured with the help of the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. He says that he wants to be a philosophical therapist, and asks Julius to tutor him. Philip’s misanthropic stance poses a challenge to Julius and he invites him to join his therapy group for six months in exchange for his tutoring in counselling.
The group’s therapy sessions illustrate the interpersonal dynamics and the problems in human relations. Sexuality, betrayal, fear of aging, forgiveness, self-delusion and morality, powerful emotions and feelings, separate and connect the …
“Would you wiling to repeat the precise life you have lived again and again throughout eternity?”
Being confronted with cancer and his own death the psychotherapist Julius Hertzferd, try to re-examine his life and work. For reasons that he cannot clearly understands he seeks out Philip Slate, a sex-addict and old patient, which he failed to help. Philip, now a doctor of philosophy, claims to have been cured with the help of the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. He says that he wants to be a philosophical therapist, and asks Julius to tutor him. Philip’s misanthropic stance poses a challenge to Julius and he invites him to join his therapy group for six months in exchange for his tutoring in counselling.
The group’s therapy sessions illustrate the interpersonal dynamics and the problems in human relations. Sexuality, betrayal, fear of aging, forgiveness, self-delusion and morality, powerful emotions and feelings, separate and connect the members of the group, shape their characters and their relations.
Through Philip, philosophy and especially Schopenhauer’s ideas are developing throughout the book. His life and philosophy are intertwined in a brilliant way with the group’s interpersonal relations, the unrevealing of their secrets and deepest emotions.
Irvin Yalom very cleverly, allows his characters to be developed in a gradual way; the process of exposure is slow, sometimes very painful and heavily emotional. Reading the book, I caught myself being attached to some of the characters, especially to untouchable Philip. His persistence to preciseness and speech intelligibility, his cleverness and self-possession in contrast to his lack of empathy and interpersonal skills - I wouldn’t say misanthropism – form an enticing and seemingly strong personality. Only, when his secret is revealed, the flaws in his philosophical armour exposed him to his real self, a man full of rage, shocking lonely, a man that no one has ever loved him.
In a truthful and powerful manner, Yalom, who has had a long involvement with therapy groups, show that emotional accessibility is the key to build bonds and organise attachment behaviour with others. It is a great reading.
