A psychiatrist with a deep interest in philosophical issues, yalom jointly tells the story of the seventeenthcentury thinker baruch spinoza, his philosophy and subsequent excommunication from the jewish community, and his apparent influence on the nazi ideologue alfred rosenberg, whose. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Little is known about the psyche of either baruch spinoza or alfred. Irvin d yalom a novel by the masterful storyteller and psychotherapist irvin yalom interweaves the philosophical life of benedict spinoza with the story of the obsessive nazi philosopher alfred rosenberg. The spinoza problem, by irvin yalom the washington post. Yaloms latest novel, the spinoza problem, is yet another example of how a psychiatrists stock in trade the secrets spoken only in the therapists office can be spun into gold by a gifted storyteller. A psychiatrist with a deep t in philosophical issues, yalom jointly tells the story of the seventeenthcentury thinker baruch spinoza, his philosophy and subsequent excommunication from the jewish community, and his apparent influence on the nazi ideologue alfred rosenberg, whose. Mar 15, 20 in the spinoza problem, irvin yalom spins fact and fiction into an unforgettable psychophilosophical novel. Yalom postulates the spinoza problem was rosenbergs efforts to understand how a great geman like goethe could be influenced by a mere jew, or how a jew could write such an insightful book. One dives into studies of how mental acuity, experiences, life events, culture, health and mindset lead to decisions related. In the spinoza problem, irvin yalom spins fact and fiction into an unforgettable psychophilosophical novel. A psychiatrist with a deep interest in philosophical issues, yalom jointly tells the story of the seventeenthcentury thinker baruch. Use the link below to share a fulltext version of this article with your friends and colleagues.
A psychiatrist with a deep interest in philosophical issues, yalom jointly tells the story of the seventeenthcentury thinker baruch spinoza, his philosophy and subsequent excommunication from the jewish community, and his apparent influence on the nazi ideologue. Yalom explores the mindsets of two men separated by 300 years. The spinoza problem consists of two compelling narratives. Lads,your needs are few, they are easily attained, and any necessary suffering can be easily tolerated. Yalom discusses his latest novel, the spinoza problem 2012, perseus books, with his son, victor yalom. Through a series of fortunate events you can call it serendipity i started reading another book written by the same author. Irvin yalom explores the connection between these two widely separated individuals in his latest novel, the spinoza problem. I have mentioned before, in my ranting about books and reading, my life long difficulties with studying philosophy. The two tales amount to a mystery novel, although it is a mystery of a very cerebral kind. Among the innumerable treasures the nazis stole from europe during world war ii was a collection of books displayed at the spinoza museum in rijnsburg, holland. It was written between 1661 and 1675 and was first published posthumously in 1677 the book is perhaps the most ambitious attempt to apply the method of euclid in philosophy. A novel 1st first trade paper edition by yalom, irvin d.
All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. The two tales amount to a mystery novel, although it is a. By imagining the unexpected intersection of spinozas life with rosenbergs, internationally bestselling novelist irvin d. Irvin yalom discusses the spinoza problem novel duration. Aug 10, 2019 irvin yalom discusses the spinoza problem novel. Baruch spinoza was a 17th century jewish scholar who is recognized to be an early forerunner of contemporary philosophy. Yalom, 9780465061853, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. As in when nietzsche wept and the schopenhauer cure, yalom weaves psychoanalytic knowledge with brilliant storytelling ability. The stone in a former graveyard, does not mark the exact place of his grave. Reviewing the spinoza problem is more than a little challenging, it is not quite successful as a novel, but is a far better way of educating the reader into grasping facets of spinozas philosophy than any of the dummies type guides might be, because the information is woven in a more dramatic, narrative, human way. Seligman, author of flourish the spinoza problem is a ringing endorsement for an authentically philosophical life, wherein a toweringly heroic philosopher is persecuted in two eras.
An imaginative historical fiction spanning the biographically elusive spinoza and the senior nazi, alfred rosenberg. By imagining the unexpected intersection of spinoza s life with rosenbergs, internationally bestselling novelist irvin d. Yalom yalom has written another intriguing novel that sheds light on what it means to be human. Yalom in the spinoza problem, irvin yalom spins fact and fiction into an unforgettable psychophilosophical novel. As much intellectual exploration as novel, yaloms latest the schopenhauer cure, 2005, etc. Indeed, many of these phrases are drawn from spinozas theologicalpolitical treatise, which accounts for the novels stilted tone. Little is known about the psyche of either baruch spinoza or alfred rosenberg, yet using his extraordinary ability to peer into the minds of his.
In truth, yaloms explanation is speculation the spinoza problem could have been something else entirely. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the spinoza problem. Rosenberg is cast as a subtly immature figure, seeking his place in the party he helped to form. The spinoza problem hardcover tattered cover book store. He also has written books about case histories and relationships. A haunting portrait of arthur rosenberg, one of nazisms chief architects, and his obsession with one of.
My only real success in this endeavor came when i read the story of. Yalom irvin yalom is a prominent psychiatrist who is now professor emeritus at stanford medical school he is a well published author who is known for his outstanding books on group therapy. Irvin yaloms the spinoza problem is an amazing novel that combines fact and fiction in a spellbinding manner. The result is a warmly intelligent novel of ideas which is utterly absorbing. Heres how he might put it if he were standing here today. Irvin yalom discusses the spinoza problem novel youtube. He is punished by having to memorise passages from the autobiography of goethe and. When sixteenyearold alfred rosenberg is called into his head. A haunting portrait of arthur rosenberg, one of nazisms chief architects, and his obsession with one of historys most influential jewish thinkers in the spinoza problem, irvin yalom spins fact and fiction into an unforgettable psychophilosophical drama. The business is faltering and bento already has problems with the jewish community and his family. The spinoza problem, by irvin yalom washington post. Irvin yalom does a masterful job in bringing to life spinoza and his philosophy and connecting it to the apocalyptic history of nazi germany and the persona of. The spinoza problem becomes more than a mere academic endeavor.
The spinoza problem is engrossing, enlightening, disturbing and ultimately deeply satisfying. Little is known about the psyche of either baruch spinoza or alfred rosenberg, yet using his extraordinary ability to peer into the minds of his patients, dr. It becomes a search for understanding of place in a world torn by rigid identity distinctions and unyielding outgroup warfare. Reading yaloms psychiatric tourdeforce is like listening to two alternating sessions between. Using his skills as a psychiatrist, he explores the inner lives of spinoza, the saintly secular philosopher, and of rosenberg, the godless mass murderer. One of the early thinkers of the enlightenment and modern biblical criticism, including modern conceptions. Abraham verghese, author of cutting for stone in 1909, sixteenyearold alfred rosenberg is called into his headmasters office for making antisemitic remarks. Seligman, author of flourish irvin yaloms the spinoza problem is an amazing novel that combines fact and fiction in a spellbinding manner. It was written between 1661 and 1675 1 and was first published posthumously in 1677.
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