Irvin Yalom: Becoming myself, paperback, Piatkus,

I have read several of Irvin Yalom's books, nonfiction and fiction, and admire his ground breaking work in existential and group psychotherapy. "Becoming myself" is his memoir which I greatly enjoyed, what an example of a life well lived.  

He is the first US born child of poor, uneducated Russian Jews growing up in a rough neighbourhood in Washington DC. Being somewhat of a nerd, he exceĺs in school and sets his sights on becoming a doctor. Gaining entry into Stanford medical school is the beginning of an astonishing career, always dedicated to serving his patients,  the guiding light in his research and experiments.  I found the book occasionally  a little too longwinded for non medical readers,  nevertheless this does not diminish this outstanding memoir.  I marvel at the amount of work he still does even at an advanced age, dedicated to his patients but never forgetting to make time for recreation and fun. Add his family life with 4 children and his long marriage to his wife Marilyn, a professor herself, and  their dedication to one another,  and one has to fight feeling inferior.  An astonishing life journey..