Becoming Myself

A Psychiatrist's Memoir

By: Irvin D. Yalom

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Best-selling writer and psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom puts himself on the couch in a lapidary memoir

Irvin D. Yalom has made a career of investigating the lives of others. In this profound memoir, he turns his writing and his therapeutic eye on himself. He opens his story with a nightmare: He is 12 and is riding his bike past the home of an acne-scarred girl. Like every morning, he calls out, hoping to befriend her, "Hello Measles!" But in his dream, the girl's father makes Yalom understand that his daily greeting had hurt her. For Yalom, this was the birth of empathy; he would not forget the lesson. As Becoming Myself unfolds, we see the birth of the insightful thinker whose books have been a beacon to so many. This is not simply a man's life story; Yalom's reflections on his life and development are an invitation for us to reflect on the origins of our own selves and the meanings of our lives.

©2017 Irvin D. Yalom (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"Fans of this eloquent and introspective author will welcome this innermost chronicle of his history, passions, and the keys to unlocking a fruitful life." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Irv Yalom is the psychiatrist who thinks like a philosopher and writes like the fine novelist he also happens to be. Becoming Myself delivers not only the engrossing story of one exceptional individual's life. It shines with revelations regarding life as it ought to be lived." (Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy)

Unrevealing

This book is more of an accounting of Yalom’s impressive career. I don’t feel I learned more about him after reading this book and found it actually kind of dull. He skates over the interesting stuff such as his marital challenges, his own insecurities and his relationships. I’d skip this one. Good narration.

excellent capstone to a life well lived

It helps, but not essential to have read most if not all of his previous exceptional books. Dr. Yalom, or rather, Irv, reviews how his books were conceived in addition to how he became himself. Yalom has shaped my career as a psychiatrist and individual group therapist more than any other writer. I don't want to accept that this has to be his last book. I found myself weeping in the privacy of my. back yard when it ended, being fairly sure, though not absolutely certain, that I would live my life the same...with Dr. Yalom as a mentor.

What an amazing life led by Yalom

I loved every minute of this book and it was especially special on audio. Great narration.

One of the best autobiographies ever

As a therapist in training, this was invaluable. This was my first Yalom book and I will proceed to buy them all.

Dissapointed

I have so very much appreciated and benefitted by Dr. Yalom's writings. This title is an exception. I am accustomed to Dr. Yalom's speaking voice and this narration felt over-performed. Also, the endorsement of TalkSpace Chapter was a clunky insertion and felt like an advertisement as opposed to a thoughtful consideration of what text therapy and this type of therapeutic conversation has really meant to him. I may have a bias because I just watched a YouTube presentation of Dr. Yalom's sponsored by TalkSpace and had begun to wonder if he has a substantial paid arrangement with TalkSpace. He might have left it out or given it more thorough consideration.

Narration

The narration on this very important contribution by Yalom was outstanding. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to hear more and be inspired by a life well-lived.

Yalom Fans Rejoice

a wonderful book for any Yalom fan, big or small. He is a wonderful story teller with a lot of great wisdom.

Beautiful life story

Yalom’s word transform you into a time and place that is his own. I have enjoyed ALL of his books. The narrator was captivating. I admit that I began to cry when at the end Yalom stated that there would be no more books.

Awesome as always

Dr. Yalom has inspired so many through his work for decades. I was fortunate to see him in person during a recent APA convention and learned about his newly published memoir. I was astonished by his genuineness during the sharing session and in his book. Looking forward to reading and listening to more of his works and expecting to continuously learning from him.

Memoir of a Journey from Psychoanalysis to Zen

It is great to know Dr. Yalom, for those who even slightly are familiar with his work. He shed light on Death Anxiety and Existential issues, he is open and honest about his own journey through the years, dealing with some early one age related memory issues, to death anxiety. I was hoping he shared even more intimate feelings , about " getting a day closer" from his own perspective of end of his life, which I hope is not all that near