Nietzsche Wept - Irvin D. Yalom 
are Actually Friedrich Nietzsche and Josef Breuer never met in real life and yet builds Yalom based on this fictional encounter an amazing novel. This brings us back where we witness the (fictitious) development of analytical psychotherapy in Vienna of the fin de siècle. Actually this book was a long time on my 'I will still read' list, but the flowing transition between reality and fiction has always discouraged me this book without detailed knowledge of the biographies of Nietzsche, Breuer and Salomé read. By chance I of this book, however, fell into the hands and now, after I had devoured it, I'm glad to have given up my previous 'commitment towards the true reality'. Skillfully mixed Yalom real events and facts connected with fictional elements, so that a story emerges, which is measured by André Gide's phrase 'poetry is history that could have taken place' just could gather.
Now to the actual novel. Brewer worked as a renowned physician and inventor of the completely new 'talking cure' in Vienna when he receives an unexpected visit. Lou Salomé , a former girlfriend asks Nietzsche, Breuer this novel treatment in Nietzsche, who suffers from migraines and severe depression thereof. Unusually, however, is the fact Nietzsche that he should be treated without his knowledge. In the spell of Salomé's appearance concluded agrees Breuer and Lou Salomé arranged through skillful manipulation and cunning a meeting. But as quickly becomes clear that an old and traditional doctors / patient relationship will not lead to success, Brewer uses a library. He asks him if Nietzsche's own suffering existential nature to heal.
"His fear was a painful wound - to the day when he discovered the pleasure as a means of taming of fear. Thankfully, he granted the so desire admission into his consciousness, and the pleasure, which brooks no rivals, displaced soon as everyone else thought. "
Nietzsche, whose philosophy is concerned with precisely these issues agree, a so explore and discover the two protagonists, their psyche, which, though based on sources, but, surprisingly, to symptomatic level, many parallels. Heal Their contrasting approaches and both believe the other to do, they open doors long closed in themselves and dare first tentative views of the newly auftuenden rooms. But neither really manages to enter this new space as well.
"... you want to fly, but you , flies, flying not . First you must learn to walk, and this is the first step in the realization that the one who obeys not itself, is commanded by others. It is easier, much easier to follow other than to tell yourself. "
" He understands that the will is powerless against the "so it was." Am I able to teach him how the "it" was in the "I wanted to re create it?" "
Only when both their inner superiority and their belief the other to try to heal up, it comes to a productive and mutually beneficial dialogue. Due to the fact that Nietzsche argued strongly from the head, while Breuer speaks from the position of defender of intuition, me, these places have always reminded of the conversations that will emerge continuously between our head and abdomen. Only if both go to the same level and submit their own self-understanding of a common humility (*), they will meet on a plane so that an exchange take place between equals.
, Nietzsche Wept 'know a lot of parallels with, The Schopenhauer Cure 'on. Be central is here again the relationship between patient and therapist, which Yalom (In the mountain of the Hot psychotherapy) in an impressive manner portrayed not as a companion and as a consultant. The potentially beneficial effect of philosophy (if one can put them into practice) and contained plenty of insight into the world of psychotherapy are other connecting elements.
But the novel also stands out for its language. After just a few pages, one gets the impression in Vienna of the late 19. Century to be. And yet the novel is very easy to read and fluently and despite the balancing act between historical reality and giving meaning to fiction designed very natural and less. A book I can recommend absolutely. Finally, a few of the many quotes that I liked.
"Curling? I do not know. Then I have no answer. I do not love the danger! If something attracts me, it's not the danger - quite the escape, not the threat, but security. Maybe I've lived too sure! Who knows, Josef, if not a safe life is actually dangerous. Dangerous deadly. "
"We skeptics have our own enemies, our own devil, who undermined our Skesis and scatters the seeds of faith in the most unexpected angle. So we kill the gods to speak, but the holy-gap - teachers, artists must, beautiful women "
" But Frederick, we search for truth, to uncover the truth, not renounce all illusion "
? "TRUTH writ large," said Nietzsche. Only I forgot to say, Joseph, the researchers learn that the truth of an even need. namely, that the truth is an illusion - but one without which we can not live "
(*) I use the word humility in the religious context but not in the sense Fromm , for the humility of the reason and objectivity corresponding emotional attitude means as a prerequisite to overcoming one's own narcissism .
