jvs2000's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
mery_2023's review against another edition
IMMEDIATELY NO!
DNF but I managed to get to 10% and I know enough to judge it and immediately dismiss it.
The first red flag should been that it's dedicated to young men.
The book is written from an extremely privileged pov that states from the very beginning that trauma isn't real and if you're not anything bu happy it's your fault. Child abuse? You're just doing it because that's how your parents give you attention.
Weirdly enough, the book is written from the incredibly patronizing and paternalistic perspective of an old philosopher debating a young man. They think they know better and want to convince the others. Just the ego of choosing to debate your own perspective in your book???
I can't remember the last time a book made me this angry!
DNF but I managed to get to 10% and I know enough to judge it and immediately dismiss it.
The first red flag should been that it's dedicated to young men.
The book is written from an extremely privileged pov that states from the very beginning that trauma isn't real and if you're not anything bu happy it's your fault. Child abuse? You're just doing it because that's how your parents give you attention.
Weirdly enough, the book is written from the incredibly patronizing and paternalistic perspective of an old philosopher debating a young man. They think they know better and want to convince the others. Just the ego of choosing to debate your own perspective in your book???
I can't remember the last time a book made me this angry!
fionaguiley's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I did like this book, many parts of it resonated with me and made me think. I cannot accept all of its assertions though - for example, I completely reject the notion that trauma does not exist. If anyone has experienced trauma, known someone who has, or read about the effects (physical and mental) that trauma has on the body, it is obvious that it exists.
This isn’t really a critique of the author, who is simply paraphrasing the teaching of the psychologist Alfred Adler, who did hold the stance of something to the effect of the non-existence of trauma. However, I think it’s important to consider the context in which he was saying it. He was part of Freud’s ‘Wednesday Society’ and ended up breaking out on his own after disagreeing with Freud on many topics - perhaps the main one being Freud’s cause & effect theory of determinism. It seems to me that in order to make his own theories stand on their own, he had to differentiate himself from Freud in an extreme way.
Any psychology student knows that Freud had some BS theories too, but I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle of both Freud’s & Adler’s theories. I believe trauma has a profound effect on the mind and body and that cannot be denied. However, one should try their very best to not let their trauma completely define them and attempt to move past it in order to be able to live in the present.
With that giant disclaimer out of the way, the book does have many other positive aspects that I’ll hold with me. If you find yourself unable to let go of other’s perspectives of you, and constantly worried about the past and future instead of the present, this book could have some parts that resonate with you, like it did for me. Take what you like and leave the rest.
This isn’t really a critique of the author, who is simply paraphrasing the teaching of the psychologist Alfred Adler, who did hold the stance of something to the effect of the non-existence of trauma. However, I think it’s important to consider the context in which he was saying it. He was part of Freud’s ‘Wednesday Society’ and ended up breaking out on his own after disagreeing with Freud on many topics - perhaps the main one being Freud’s cause & effect theory of determinism. It seems to me that in order to make his own theories stand on their own, he had to differentiate himself from Freud in an extreme way.
Any psychology student knows that Freud had some BS theories too, but I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle of both Freud’s & Adler’s theories. I believe trauma has a profound effect on the mind and body and that cannot be denied. However, one should try their very best to not let their trauma completely define them and attempt to move past it in order to be able to live in the present.
With that giant disclaimer out of the way, the book does have many other positive aspects that I’ll hold with me. If you find yourself unable to let go of other’s perspectives of you, and constantly worried about the past and future instead of the present, this book could have some parts that resonate with you, like it did for me. Take what you like and leave the rest.
peppypenguin's review against another edition
5.0
I can see how this would be a divisive book. That being said, I loved every word of it. At the very least, whether you agree with any points or not, this is worth a read.
campbelltaral's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is my first conscious exposure to Adlerian psychology and I'm glad it was through a fictional presentation of the ideas passed between philosopher and student. While absorbing the points made by the elder, my counter arguments were voiced by the young student. Invariably, I came around the same time as the student. I need to read it again, but I definitely recommend this book as a starting point.