SAEDNEWS: Ervin Yalom is one of the most famous authors in the psychoanalysis genre and a pioneer of existential psychotherapy in the world. His works have been translated into dozens of languages and published in millions of copies worldwide. Here, Mohammad Mahdi Mirlou, a psychotherapist and psychology researcher, reviews Yalom’s works.
Ervin Yalom: A Lifetime of Achievements
Ervin Yalom, a 92-year-old American psychiatrist and existential psychotherapist, is recognized globally and in academic circles primarily as a writer of psychological novels. To underscore Yalom's significance in contemporary psychiatry and psychotherapy, it is enough to mention that Dr. Whitehorn, his mentor, wrote a letter to Stanford University’s president upon Yalom's hiring, emphasizing that he would soon become a leader in American psychiatry.
Since the publication of Yalom’s first book, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy in 1970, many of his works have been translated into various languages and have reached a wide audience, including psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and healthcare professionals. Yalom’s fluent writing style, engaging tone, and extraordinary ability to convey deep psychotherapeutic concepts through an artistic fusion of psychology and philosophy earned him the 2002 Literary Award of the American Psychiatric Association. His main works revolve around existential concerns, such as the meaning of life, death anxiety, loneliness, freedom, and responsibility, all grounded in the thoughts of great philosophers, psychiatric and psychological research, and decades of clinical experience.
According to some critics, Yalom's writing style is comparable to Freud’s. He frequently shares his thoughts and feelings throughout his works, presenting himself as a vulnerable seeker to his readers. This self-disclosure and transparency have enabled Yalom to profoundly impact millions of lives worldwide. Yalom's primary concern across his works is addressing existential dilemmas and emphasizing the human connection between therapist and patient.
A Shift Toward Storytelling
Less attention has been paid to Yalom’s reasons for writing both fictional and non-fictional works. In an interview with Dr. Josselson, Yalom explained that he retired early from academia, partly because psychiatry during his time had become highly medicalized, with students showing little interest in psychotherapy, focusing more on medication. This prompted Yalom to teach through writing instead of classroom lectures.
This article provides a brief overview of some of Yalom’s most notable works:
Jerome Frank, Yalom’s mentor and a group therapy expert at Johns Hopkins University, regarded this book as the best work ever written on group therapy. Published in 1970 when Yalom was 39, the book emerged from a decade of research and clinical practice in group therapy. Divided into 17 chapters, it covers topics like therapeutic factors, interpersonal learning, group cohesion, here-and-now interactions, transference, and transparency. Dr. Josselson considers it Yalom’s most widely read work among mental health professionals.
Yalom’s second classic, Existential Psychotherapy, was written a decade after his first book, following an in-depth study of numerous philosophical works. Yalom himself described it as the foundational reference for all his subsequent writings, which expand on various aspects of existential psychotherapy. The book focuses on four ultimate concerns:
Death Anxiety: The inevitability of mortality creates anxiety.
Meaning Creation: A meaning must be created in a fundamentally meaningless world.
Freedom and Responsibility: Humans are free to choose and must accept responsibility for their choices.
Existential Isolation: Individuals must confront their inherent solitude on their journey.
Published in 2002, The Gift of Therapy serves as an open letter to a new generation of psychotherapists and patients. Drawing from Yalom’s 45 years of clinical experience, it presents 85 concise lessons for therapists and patients. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and advises therapists to avoid dogmatism while embracing pluralism in psychotherapy. Yalom argues that a therapist's most valuable tool is their authentic self.
Published in 2008 when Yalom was 77, Staring at the Sun addresses the fear of death, one of the central themes in Yalom’s works. This book reflects on death anxiety, especially as Yalom approached the later stages of life.
This 1992 psychological novel centers on a fictional encounter between Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, and Josef Breuer, an Austrian physician. Their dialogues explore the meaning of life and existential despair, ultimately highlighting the liberating power of friendship and existential psychotherapy.
Published in 1999, this book contains six stories that revolve around death. Yalom argues that humans fear the solitude accompanying death more than death itself. He portrays the struggle to live a shared life, despite the inevitability of dying alone.
Published in 2005, this novel tells the story of a psychiatrist diagnosed with malignant skin cancer who joins group therapy sessions to cope with death anxiety. The book interweaves Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy, offering insights into group therapy and philosophical counseling.
Published in 2012, this novel explores the philosophy of 17th-century thinker Baruch Spinoza, focusing on freedom and responsibility. While incorporating psychological, philosophical, and historical elements, its psychological dimensions are particularly prominent.
In 2017, at the age of 86, Yalom published his autobiography, Becoming Myself, chronicling his journey from childhood to the present. He candidly reveals his vulnerabilities and reflects on living a meaningful life while facing the inevitability of death.
Yalom’s most recent book, A Matter of Death and Life, was published in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-authored with his wife Marilyn, it explores their conscious approach to life as Marilyn faced terminal cancer. Divided into 35 chapters, the book is a poignant story of their enduring love, ending with Marilyn’s death.
