Rating: 
Summary: physician, heal thyself, & look in the mirror too!
Review: i've read dr. yalom's book twice now. i couldn't agree more with the other reviewers who are taken aback by his disgust for his patients. different reviewers admired his "bravery," but i, as a humanist and also someone in the medical profession, think he uses his book almost as anintellectually masturbatory confessional. i have always been fat and though it is "nice" to know the truth of the contempt that many people hold for fat people, it is difficult to read this coming from a psychotherapist who uses his overweight patient only, it seems, to massage his psyche. i expect more. i expect compassion, empathy, MATURITY, and the ability to accept and even enjoy people's differences. yalom missed the boat here. i wouldn't pay him a dime for analysis. there are so many better, more mature, less projecting, less narcissistic therapists out there. nu, you've been warned! :-)
Rating:
Summary: physician, heal thyself, & look in the mirror too!
Review: i've read dr. yalom's book twice now. i couldn't agree more with the other reviewers who are taken aback by his disgust for his patients. different reviewers admired his "bravery," but i, as a humanist and also someone in the medical profession, think he uses his book almost as anintellectually masturbatory confessional. i have always been fat and though it is "nice" to know the truth of the contempt that many people hold for fat people, it is difficult to read this coming from a psychotherapist who uses his overweight patient only, it seems, to massage his psyche. i expect more. i expect compassion, empathy, MATURITY, and the ability to accept and even enjoy people's differences. yalom missed the boat here. i wouldn't pay him a dime for analysis. there are so many better, more mature, less projecting, less narcissistic therapists out there. nu, you've been warned! :-)
Rating: 
Summary: please? what is wrong with you people?
Review: If any of you reader-critic people think you're encountering a therapist or Doctor or friend who sees you without judgement--then you're simply fooling yourselves. Anyone who pretends they've got no judgement of you is selling you something. Even the holiest of humans judge--I'm sure of it. Get over yourselves--we are limited, we are not perfect. Yalom speaks the truth about his countertransference and that is a gift to all who are involved in the therapeutic enterprise. It is when we deny the shadow that we are in real trouble. Fat may not disgust everyone it is true--but this is Yalom's experience, and this is what he gives us unabashedly. Can you not find it within yourselves to allow him his feelings? Unconditional positive regard can only happen with full acknowledgement of all projections good and bad.
Rating:
Summary: A soft, deep touch, to the human soul.
Review: In the last 10 years I read a lot about psychotherapy and most of the time I learned something new and useful. However, most often, the author would try to "sell you" his truth, his method as something truly superior to all the others. His method should be present in everybody's life like the water on our planet. Instead Dr. Yalom's book is full of stimulating doubts. The question we should ask ourselves to get our answers and live to the fullest. It's an honest, warm book
Rating:
Summary: please? what is wrong with you people?
Review: It seems that there's more than a bit of transferance occuring with some of the reviewers here. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinions but some of the reviewers here seem to have either missed the point of Dr. Yalom's stories or are simply incapable of seeing past their entrenched prejudices and preconceptions. Some readers are apparently unable to come to grips with one of the central theses of Yalom's book, which is that the therapist is just as human and prone to error and prejudice as his patients. If anything, Yalom is almost embarrassingly honest about his often extremely negative reactions to many of his patients. He doesn't candy-coat any of it. In this book we get Irvin Yalom, M.D., warts and all, just as he promises in his introduction. The critics who cannot accept a "human" doctor are symptomatic of the greater societal damand that medical professionals should be (no, MUST be) above all emotion save those of the most magnanimous and saintly variety. We expect doctors to be godlike, above pettiness and messy "unseemly" thoughts and feelings. Bah. Hogwash. Dr. Yalom's triumph here is the explosion of such myths. He is not St. Yalom, ministering from his pedestal of medical and moral perfection. He is Irvin Yalom the Man, as prone to judgment as any of us. His unflinching self-criticism and honesty -- with his patients, himself, and his readers -- is what makes this such a remarkable book and Yalom such a remarkable therapist. If you're the sort who feels a psychic need to see doctors as superhuman this book will prove very disturbing to you. Those realistic enough to know this is ridiculous fantasy will be enlightening, entertained, and touched.
Rating:
Summary: A word about some of the negative reviews...
Review: It seems that there's more than a bit of transferance occuring with some of the reviewers here. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinions but some of the reviewers here seem to have either missed the point of Dr. Yalom's stories or are simply incapable of seeing past their entrenched prejudices and preconceptions. Some readers are apparently unable to come to grips with one of the central theses of Yalom's book, which is that the therapist is just as human and prone to error and prejudice as his patients. If anything, Yalom is almost embarrassingly honest about his often extremely negative reactions to many of his patients. He doesn't candy-coat any of it. In this book we get Irvin Yalom, M.D., warts and all, just as he promises in his introduction. The critics who cannot accept a "human" doctor are symptomatic of the greater societal damand that medical professionals should be (no, MUST be) above all emotion save those of the most magnanimous and saintly variety. We expect doctors to be godlike, above pettiness and messy "unseemly" thoughts and feelings. Bah. Hogwash. Dr. Yalom's triumph here is the explosion of such myths. He is not St. Yalom, ministering from his pedestal of medical and moral perfection. He is Irvin Yalom the Man, as prone to judgment as any of us. His unflinching self-criticism and honesty -- with his patients, himself, and his readers -- is what makes this such a remarkable book and Yalom such a remarkable therapist. If you're the sort who feels a psychic need to see doctors as superhuman this book will prove very disturbing to you. Those realistic enough to know this is ridiculous fantasy will be enlightening, entertained, and touched.
Rating:
Summary: Just a Note
Review: Just wanted to add that I'm sure therapists can learn more about the therapy process by reading this book, and clients can benefit not only from relating to the patients presented in the book -- but _also_, the added insight from getting a feel for the "big picture," of what the therapist is trying to do, can be very helpful to those in the recovery and healing process. One also leaves the stories with a great sense of admiration for Yalom. Yalom does a great job of verbalizing the process of counseling, with its infinite nuances.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping
Review: Love's Executioner is a gripping read. Not only does Yalon provide the reader with ten difficult and interesting cases, he gives a powerful insight into the skills and dilemmas of the therapist. For therapists everywhere, this will fascinate and reassure that even the Grand-daddy of them all comes up against hurdles. Best $12 I have ever spent.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: Once I started reading this book by Yalom, I couldn't put it down. What a surprise, it was one of those required books for a class, and now its a proud part of my book collection. Great insight into what a master therapist is thinking about his clients and their treatment plans, as well as existential issues that arise. And oh yes, dream stuff too. Fun book to read. Must read.
Rating:
Summary: A great book by a great listener
Review: The thing I liked the most about this book is the authors willingness to give the reader a glimpse into his own personal life as well as the fact he is willing to admit that unlike the image of the know it all therapist, he not only had a lot to learn, but his own education was constantly evolving. A lot has changed in just ten years. Alternative lifestyles, older women younger men re: Harold and Maude , sexual alternatives aka polyamory and a variety of other changes in society make this a must read. I only hope the author does a second book along the same lines since he is very observant and shares his learning experiences so well
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