In his long career, Irvin D. Yalom has been involved in exploring the lives of others. In the book THIS WAS LIFE? THEN ONCE MORE! – MEMOIRS OF A PSYCHIATRIST, his autobiography, he turns his therapeutic gaze upon himself, examining the relationships that shaped him and outlining his groundbreaking work for which he became famous.

As the child of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Yalom grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Washington. Wanting to break free from its confines, he set his sights on becoming a doctor. His rise was remarkable: Yalom shares with readers his beginnings at Harvard Medical School, amidst the cultural ferment and turmoil of the 1960s, his shift toward writing literary works to explore the human soul more deeply, and his evolution into a world-renowned author.

In his autobiography, we also follow how Yalom shaped his innovative approach to group psychotherapy and how he evolved into the most significant contemporary existential psychotherapist, drawing from the wisdom of great thinkers throughout the ages. We discover the inspiration behind his beloved books that have captivated an international readership, such as The Gift of Therapy and When Nietzsche Wept, where the synthesis of psychology and philosophy led to a new revealing understanding of the human condition.

Weaving together the stories of his most memorable patients with tales of his personal loves, readings, adventures, disappointments, family moments, and professional successes, the book THIS WAS LIFE? THEN ONCE MORE! – MEMOIRS OF A PSYCHIATRIST opens a window into Yalom's family life, his scientific and psychotherapeutic journey, and the writing of the books that established his reputation.

In this, his latest book, Yalom draws wisdom from a quote by Charles Dickens: “For as I approach the end, the circle closes and I move more and more toward the beginning.” He reflects on the point from which he started and invites us to examine our own starting point, perhaps offering his greatest gift to readers.

For Greek readers, the book presents particular interest: Yalom dedicates two chapters to Greece and describes in detail his visits to the country where most of his readership per capita resides.

They wrote about the book: “When Yalom publishes something –whatever it may be– I buy it and it never disappoints me. He is an amazing storyteller, a writer of great beauty, a great, generous, compassionate thinker, and rightly one of the most distinguished psychotherapists in the world.” – Nicola Barker, Guardian Best Books of 2017

“Wonderful, irresistible, and revealing, as we expected, both for himself and for the era he lived in. An exceptional read.” – Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone

“The famous author and psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom places himself on the couch in a biography of exceptional accuracy and art. [...] From the first line, this revealing book invites the reader into the personal and vulnerable mental universe of one of the greatest contemporary psychotherapists.” – Goodreads

“Yalom writes like an angel about the demons that besiege us. These wonderfully crafted true stories go far beyond psychotherapy. They are penetrating and touching life tales from a wise psychotherapist.” – ROLLO MAY (Comment on The Gift of Therapy)

BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS IRVIN D. YALOM (born 1931) is an emeritus professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University Medical School in the USA. A student and collaborator of Rollo May, he is considered one of the foremost living representatives of the existential school in psychiatry and is the author of the most respected and comprehensive manual on existential psychotherapy (Existential Psychotherapy). In the scientific field, he is particularly known for his clinical and research work in group psychotherapy.

His first book, which was published in a new revised and expanded edition in 2006, Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, has been translated into seventeen languages and serves as a key textbook in many psychiatry and psychotherapy schools. Yalom has written many other scientific books and articles.

His literary work began late and includes three collections of short stories and four novels, which have become bestsellers in many countries. All of his literary books consist of stories of psychotherapy, and he considers them an extension of his teaching work, which, as he says, is already filled with stories and narratives.

In Agra Publications, his books include: When Nietzsche Wept, On the Couch, The Schopenhauer Cure, and The Spinoza Problem (novels); The Gift of Therapy, The Mother and the Meaning of Life, and Creatures of a Day and Other Stories of Psychotherapy (short stories); Religion and Psychiatry, The Gift of Psychotherapy, In the Garden of Epicurus, Leaving Behind the Terror of Death, Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, and In-Hospital Group Psychotherapy (essays and studies); Every Day a Little Closer: A Psychotherapy Told Twice (with Ginny Elkin); and I Will Call the Police, co-authored with R.L. Berger (narrative).