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I found the stories in this book a bit frustrating to read - they were too short to be anything more than slightly interesting anecdotes.They suffered from a lack of detail which robs them of their ability to evoke compassion, and leaves the reader lacking enough detail or understanding to gain a sense of the wisdom or appropriateness of the judgements made by Grosz in his cases.

Grosz's observation rings true that we make sense of our lives and experiences by story telling and creating narratives, but, as he comments, it is not enough to tell tales. There must be someone to listen. Others� reactions to our narratives can be a crucial influence on our ability to understand and self correct, and to our coming to terms with what has happened to us, which explains much of the talking cure.

Some of the narratives are poignant and the observations wonderful - and speak of value and truth to me as I read them, like the story of Stanley and the way his envy of his children ate up his love for them, “what remained of his feelings of love for his child stood little chance against the grand narrative that his envy had written.�

I have little doubt about Grosz' ability as a psychiatrist, but he doesn't seem to be much of a writer, to understand how much narrative it takes to convey truth and authenticity, and make an impact. This is his first book, and I think his editors have done him an injustice in allowing a brevity which impoverishes the tales.