Momma and the Meaning of Life: Tales of Psychotherapy (Hardcover)

What about momma, what was she like? Yalom draws a picture of an ill tempered, overpowering and vain woman with whom he never remembers sharing 'a warm moment'. But she's not all-bad. Yalom shares a moment of them together, a moment when she is enjoying her son's books. Unable to read them because of a sight problem, she handles then tenderly and says, "Big books. Beautiful books". The rational son, on the other hand, points out that it is what is 'in' the books that is important not how they feel. "Oyvin, don't talk narishkeit - foolishness. Beautiful books!" This motherly sense and presence returns to all of the six tales within the book. The tales are: 'Momma and the Meaning of Life'; 'Travels with Paula': 'Southern Comfort'; 'Seven Advanced Lessons in the Therapy of Grief'; 'Double Exposure'; and 'The Hungarian Cat Curse'. All the tales have elements, in varying degrees, of non-fiction. Some like Southern Comfort (my favourite), a story concerning a remarkable black woman in inpatient psychotherapy, are pure non-fiction 'flecked only with fiction to conceal the patients' identity'. But, as the author also says, 'not only does fiction have its own truth, but every story, no matter how "true," is a lie because it omits so much.'

Yalom is both a storyteller and teacher. His 'academic' books succeed, having sold in thousands and having been translated in some twenty languages, because they impart knowledge through stories. These stories engage us regardless of whether or not we are health professionals because the only qualification we need are that we are human. His other books, not so 'Big books,' novels and collections of tales, like 'Momma and the Meaning of Life', find more readers (they cost appreciably less and look more approachable) but still contain the essence and gems of his existential psychotherapy. The words 'existential psychotherapy' I mention judiciously here at the end of my review because they would have undoubtedly switched you off, nor have I mentioned the word 'death' - a theme that runs through 'Momma'. It just goes to show how Yalom has found not only the perfect medium but also a way to engage and switch so many people on to these ideas. Yalom is a modern day alchemist, transmuting life's lead into gold.

From 'Momma and the Meaning of Life' there's one lasting image of Yalom's mother. It comes from a scene where, unable to see to read her son's books, she touches them tenderly. You can imagine her stroking them. "Big books. Beautiful books", she says. It is a marvellous image of a loving mother set against the sharp rational intelligence of a son who points out that it is what is 'in' the books that is important. She brings her son back to mother earth - "Oyvin, don't talk 'narishkeit' - foolishness. Beautiful books!" It is a quality that returns in different shapes to all of the six tales within the book: 'Momma and the Meaning of Life'; 'Travels with Paula': 'Southern Comfort'; 'Seven Advanced Lessons in the Therapy of Grief'; 'Double Exposure'; and 'The Hungarian Cat Curse'. All the tales have elements, in varying degrees, of non-fiction. Some like Southern Comfort (my favourite), a story concerning a remarkable black woman in inpatient psychotherapy, are pure non-fiction 'flecked only with fiction to conceal the patients' identity'. But, as the author also says, 'not only does fiction have its own truth, but every story, no matter how "true," is a lie because it omits so much.'

Yalom is both a storyteller and teacher. His 'academic' books succeed, having sold in thousands and been translated in some twenty languages, because they impart knowledge through stories. These human stories engage us regardless of whether or not we are psychotherapists, psychiatrists or counsellors. His other books, not so 'Big books,' novels and collections of tales, like 'Momma and the Meaning of Life', find more readers (they cost appreciably less and look more approachable) but still contain the essence and gems of his existential psychotherapy. The words 'existential psychotherapy' I mention judiciously here at the end of my review because they would have undoubtedly switched you off, nor have I mentioned the word death. It just goes to show how Yalom has found not only the perfect medium but also the right way to engage and switch so many people on to these ideas. Aside from the psychotherapy though and the 'givens of life' Yalom remains a great writer and storyteller. He returns from the often foggy and dim world of human relationships with autumn days - days when a certain light and crispness somehow bring the world into sharper focus. He's done it again with 'Momma and the Meaning of Life'.