I don't know what impressed me the most about this book - the skillfully crafted structure, the interesting depictions of two well-known historical figures in a fictional setting, or the entertaining exploration of philosophical and spiritual themes through their exciting psychotherapeutic conversation.
Yalom, an American psychiatrist, came up with the idea of a hypothetical meeting between the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and Josef Breuer, a prominent Vienna neurophysiologist and one of the pioneers of psychoanalysis, along with his young friend Freud. The action takes place in 1882, where the then 38-year-old Nietzsche suffers from severe migraine attacks and despair, leading him to suicidal thoughts. Nietzsche does not want help, but his obsession, the beautiful, young friend Lou Salome, secretly organizes a plan to bring the philosopher to the doctor for innovative "talking therapy" as no other doctor or treatment has led to a solution. The future of German and world philosophy is at stake.
The truth is that both men suffer from their demons, so through their therapy sessions, their roles as doctor and patient transform, both trying to hide their cards and get the other to open up - a power play, as Nietzsche would call it. Whose help is more needed, and do their sessions lead to a resolution or deepen their already painful struggles?
"Every person must decide how much truth he can tolerate."
Nietzsche was a one of a kind person, and it's impossible to completely put oneself in his shoes and lead a conversation as skillfully as he would. One should not expect this from Yalom, who certainly did his best to get to know and empathize with the personality of the famous philosopher, who nevertheless sometimes sounds like a shadow of a bold and sharp thinker. On the other hand, Doctor Breuer is experiencing a midlife crisis, questioning his marriage and life decisions, and, like Nietzsche, is unhappy and obsessed with a young girl, his former patient.
"How much of life have I missed," he asked himself, "just because I failed to watch? Or did I watch, but not see?"
Through the character development of the protagonists, we learn about the principles of Nietzsche's philosophy, why he feels like an outcast and a thinker born ahead of his time. We also learn about the fascinating personality of Josef Breuer, a doctor sought after by the famous personalities of Vienna and its surroundings at the time.
The novel is conceived to be used as a companion textbook for the doctor's students, but it works perfectly as a story that can be followed and is very exciting. It is full of interesting psychological and philosophical nuggets of wisdom, and it is easy to empathize with the characters and their misfortunes. This is psychotherapy presented in an accessible way, which is not off-putting or boring even for a layman like myself.
“History is fiction that did happen. Whereas fiction is history that might have happened.” - André Gide
Partly imagined and partly factual, this historical fiction novel could have happened. Although Nietzsche and Breuer never met, there was certainly a possibility of it happening, considering that their troubles, illnesses, and fears really intensified in 1882 and they roamed in the same circles. Who knows, maybe in some parallel reality, this encounter did happen, and it wouldn't be crazy to assume that it played out just like this.
4.5/5