When Nietzsche Wept: A Novel of Obsession (Perennial Classics)
by Irvin D. Yalom
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 653)
On the surface "When Nietzsche Wept" is an excellent work of fiction with a riveting storyline. At the same time, it's some really good philosophy interpretted for us by a brilliant psychoanalyst, who clearly has a taste for Nietzsche, and seeks to help us see HIS version of Nietzsche.
Yalom uses Nietzsche's hypothetical meetings with a Dr. Breuer to play out his version of Nietzsche's philosophies. By doing so, he allows HIS OWN thoughts to be bounced off of Nietzsche, so what we s...more
Yalom uses Nietzsche's hypothetical meetings with a Dr. Breuer to play out his version of Nietzsche's philosophies. By doing so, he allows HIS OWN thoughts to be bounced off of Nietzsche, so what we s...more
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Too much fiction, too little philosophy. Ironically, somewhere in the book Nietzsche abhors the idea of reading the recast philosophy. That's why he learned Greek. Drinking from the source spring rather than the still water in the carafe, he learned to read the firsthand writings and then the philologer became a philosopher. Keeping this point in your mind, imagine if you can learn Nietzsche's philosophy by reading merely the excerpts of his early works quoted now and then in the text.
Even s...more
Even s...more
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Read in February, 2008
I was introduced to Yalom by recommendation to read both his fiction and writings on psychotherapy. He was new to me, but when I heard he was a student of Roll May, I looked forward to becoming familiar with him. Before I could quite afford a copy of the novel, I bought it, started reading it in a coffee shop across the road from the bookshop, and left an hour later. I read it in a week, sometimes while waiting at bus stops. Half way through I got hold of Love's Executioner, a record of ten of h...more
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Read in January, 1999
Viennese Dr. Josef Breuer is hired by Lou Salome to cure Friedrich Nietzsche of his obsession with her -- and psychoanalysis is born. This is a wonderful novel bringing together ideas from psychoanalysis and Nietzsche's philosophy to illuminate the nature and roots of obsession -- because Breuer himself finds himself ensnared by his memories of a beuatiful patient, "Anna O."...
The reader obviously has to suspend disbelief to allow this most unlikely relationship between dotctor and ...more
The reader obviously has to suspend disbelief to allow this most unlikely relationship between dotctor and ...more
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Read in September, 2007
The premise of this book is truly interesting, but I felt that the author manipulated certain parts to "make it all fit". Yet, I did like certain aspects of it. I am drawn to historical figures, and have always had a fascination with psychoanalyzes, so I enjoyed the characters as the young and insecure Freud, the humanized Nietzsche - none less dysfunctional then as I portrait him, but more accessible as a human being - or yet, Lou Salome's manipulations of the men around her. I was al...more
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Read in May, 2007
This is such a great book in so many ways. One idea that was really monumental for me was the concept of choices in one's life and that we have the abliity to accept the choices we have made and be happy with them. Our life does not just happen to us, be we can truly in control of the choices we make and how we deal with them. I like the quote " To live safely, is to live dangerously". It means to me, not to be afraid to take what you really want and have passion for. Breuer deals wi...more
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Beach reading for the brainy set. Keeping in mind that this is one of Yalom’s “teaching novels,” envisioned not to entertain, or even to achieve artistically, but to serve as a type of literary experiential learning tool for therapists and therapists-to-be, really helps with tolerating the expository nature of much of the book. Also, Yalom’s nerdy and passionate enthusiasm is infectious, and if one surrenders to it, it allows the reader to join in with the fun he clearly was having wri...more
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In this amazing novel Yalom blends philosophy, psychoanalysis and history and imagines what would have happened had Nietzsche gone into therapy with Breuer. The plot thrives on the tensions that arise between Nietzsche's nihilistic philosophy and Freud's belief in the fundamental role of relationships on human life and development. This book is an emotional and intellectual tour de force and brings to life two of the most magnificent thinkers of the 20th century. Yalom at his best!
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Read in January, 2007
The idea for this book is good, but it was not great execution. The dialogue, especially between Breuer and Freud, is incredibly wooden. Trying to make Nietzsche a sympathetic character is sort of a waste of time and too much of the novel is devoted to that task. I think he would have hated this book passionately. But I think it is always interesting to speculate what would have developed if certain historical figures had met. The intersection of Breuer's psychology and Nietzsche's philosophy (h...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who has suffered sadness or questions their place in the universe.
This book is a must-read for anyone who has suffered from Dispar or Angst at any time in their lives. The first 180 pages are a charming novel (any book that refers to Freud as "Sigi" has got something going for it). Then on page 180, the book became something greater. I had to get up and get a pencil to underline passages, lines, quotations, etc. that stirred me. Not more than one page goes by without my underlining.
I can't wait to see how it ends, but I'm enjoying it too much...more
I can't wait to see how it ends, but I'm enjoying it too much...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
those interested in psychology or history of existential philosphy
Please read my other Yalom reviews first. This one was also very good, felt I was back in the days of young Freud, middle age Nietzche and Breuer struggling with the meaning of life, psychopathology, psychotherapy's beginnings. It was a good introduction to some of Nietzche too.. and I think it was a nice read, and very thought-provoking. Thanks, Rocky and Renee for getting me to finally read Yalom. Definately worth it.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
people with an interest in psychology
Recommended by Catherine Prest. I am almost done with this book and I would recommend it to you all. The author is a psychology professor at Stanford. The first half of the book sets up the dialogue of the second half, a psychoanalylitical discussion between Nietzsche and a medical doctor - more psychoanalysis then philosophy.
After reading When Nietzche Wept I have borrowed more books by Professor Yalom.
After reading When Nietzche Wept I have borrowed more books by Professor Yalom.
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Both a fascinating theorizing of Friedrich Nietzsche's psychological troubles, and a story of the genesis of "talk therapy" as employed by psychologists, psychiatrists and LCSWs in the modern era. Introspective people who enjoy thinking about human psychology and emotional complexity, and how those things affect one's life and one's functionality, will find this book very enjoyable and satisfying.
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Read in May, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in November, 2007
Yalom is an "existential therapist." I didn't understand what existential therapy was until I read this book. It's a novel about an imagined relationship between Nietzche and Josef Breuer, who was a friend of Freud and who is credited with inventing the "talking cure." It's a great story and helped me understand Nietzche and existentialism without having to read Nietzche. I loved it.
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Read in February, 2000
I read this book when I was just on the edge of forming myself. So it worked pretty well. And I remember spending hours discussing the ideas inside it with a friend, trying to understand if we can work things out for ourselves in our lifes. And this book is the factor which encouraged me to read some of the books of Nietzsche.
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Read in January, 2002
This is one of my favorite books. I teach it every year, and every year I find new things to love about it. I especially like watching my students get excited by its premise -- which is that Josef Breuer and Nietzsche basically "invent" a psychodynamic/existential psychotherapy together. It's just cool.
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Read in November, 2007
The writing is average , but the content is very interesting. I particularly liked the latter half which supposes a trenchant interaction between Breuer and Nietzsche in late 19th century, thus giving birth to the science and philosophy of psychotherapy. Just for its possibility should be read once.
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Read in November, 2007
awesome concept, and a very easy way to introduce yourself to the world of Nietzsche. the dialogue felt a little contrived at times but i guess it's to be expected if they involve Breuer, Nietzsche and/or Freud. i will most definitely be reading it again (and maybe again, after that).
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Read in January, 1998
recommended to Lynda by:
Michelle Francis
I love how Irvin Yalom writes; I engage with the characters immediately. I loved this book for many reasons (not the least of which is the clever idea for the storyline) and because Yalom's description of the prescriptions for Nietzsche's migraines have helped me with my own.
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