Psychotherapy without the Self: A Buddhist Perspective Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'd really hoped that Epstein's latest book would be similar to his other books, but unfortunately it isn't. It's a book written more for therapists than for people in general and features previously published academic articles. While the prose isn't too terribly hard to read or filled with academic jargon, it's clear that the intended audience probably has a deeper schooling in therapy than the average reader would.
It's an interesting perspective on Epstein's psychotherapeutic history and how his perspective has changed, but if you're looking for something, I'd recommend reading his earlier books instead.

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Immersed in Buddhist psychology prior to studying Western psychiatry, Dr. Mark Epstein first viewed Western therapeutic approaches through the lens of the East. This posed something of a challenge. Although both systems promise liberation through self-awareness, the central tenet of Buddha's wisdom is the notion of no-self, while the central focus of Western psychotherapy is the self. This book, which includes writings from the past twenty-five years, wrestles with the complex relationship between Buddhism and psychotherapy and offers nuanced reflections on therapy, meditation, and psychological and spiritual development.
A best-selling author and popular speaker, Epstein has long been at the forefront of the effort to introduce Buddhist psychology to the West. His unique background enables him to serve as a bridge between the two traditions, which he has found to be more compatible than at first thought. Engaging with the teachings of the Buddha as well as those of Freud and Winnicott, he offers a compelling look at desire, anger, and insight and helps reinterpret the Buddha's Four Noble Truths and central concepts such as egolessness and emptiness in the psychoanalytic language of our time.

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