--- product_id: 1501579 title: "Love's Executioner" price: "£17.60" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1501579-loves-executioner store_origin: GB region: Great Britain --- # Love's Executioner **Price:** £17.60 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Love's Executioner - **How much does it cost?** £17.60 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1501579-loves-executioner) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: Love's Executioner: And Other Tales of Psychotherapy: 9780465020119: Yalom, Irvin D.: Books Review: Loved Audiobook--and What Makes Love's Executioner Compelling - I first read Love's Executioner a few years ago and was so taken with it, I've recommended it dozens of times. Recently, I listened to the audio version Love's Executioner: & Other Tales of Psychotherapy , which was great (it also includes an interesting interview with Irvin Yalom) and I heard some things I hadn't picked up when reading it. In fact, I realized this work has such depth, it is worth revisiting again and again. What makes it so good? It contains the wisdom of a master existential therapist, who is also a gifted storyteller (Love's Executioner is non-fiction, based on real case histories, but it reads like fine fiction). And what is existential psychotherapy? It begins with the idea that our fundamental psychological dis-ease results from difficulties baked into human existence, such as our fear of death and our ultimate aloneness. Or as Yalom writes in Love's Executioner prologue: There are "four givens that are particularly relevant to psychotherapy: the inevitability of death for each of us and for those we love, the freedom to make our lives as we will, our ultimate aloneness, and, finally, the absence of any obvious meaning or sense to life. However grim these givens may seem, they contain the seeds of wisdom and redemption. I hope to demonstrate, in these ten tales of psychotherapy, that it is possible to confront the truths of existence and harness their power in the service of personal change and growth." * That paragraph captures the core blueprint of the book, but if you stopped there you'd be missing out. Like all great artists, Yalom brings those essential issues to life so you feel them in your bones. He stops our breath through the stories, intimate details, and insights into the lives of some of his extraordinary patients (or sometimes "ordinary"ish, but made extraordinary in Yalom's capable hands). The tender truth often shimmers in Love's Executioner. We see the art of psychotherapy, and thus living, practiced by a master, both as a writer and a guide to how to midwife psychological wisdom. Other reviewers here have pointed out that Love's Executioner is must reading for therapists and those undergoing psychotherapy. This is true, and Yalom, is understandably a rock star among therapist, not just for his skillful prose (he is also an accomplished novelist), but his textbooks that have been read by at least two generations of therapists. But it would be a shame if this masterwork--and I do believe it's fair to call Love's Executioner his master work--weren't read by everyone. For it has something for everyone: whether you like fiction or non-fiction. Lovers of fiction get the storytelling and intimacy of a great novel. Readers of non-fiction know these are stories of real patients and get actionable take-aways. As noted, I plan to reread or relisten to this book periodically, knowing I'll pick up something new each time. Books don't get much better than this. * In Love's Executioner, Yalom notes that he doesn't belong to a psychological school of thought. Since I see existential psychological dilemmas as true for everyone, regardless of your philosophical or religious beliefs, I tend to agree with him. That said, I do believe this is still an outlook, and that there will be others with a different outlook that will consider existential therapy a school of thought. -I originally got a promotional/review copy of the audiobook, but think it is so good, I got extra copies and have given copies to friends and coworkers. Review: dramatic and enlightening book - very interesting book, for therapists or anyone else who wants to have an interesting and dramatic read ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #17,231 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #12 in Popular Psychology Psychoanalysis #14 in Medical Psychotherapy TA & NLP #24 in Popular Psychology Psychotherapy | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,453) | | Dimensions | 5.5 x 0.88 x 8.35 inches | | Edition | 2nd | | Grade level | 8 and up | | ISBN-10 | 0465020119 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0465020119 | | Item Weight | 2.31 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 312 pages | | Publication date | June 5, 2012 | | Publisher | Basic Books | | Reading age | 13 years and up | ## Images ![Love's Executioner - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/810I4dbQyqL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved Audiobook--and What Makes Love's Executioner Compelling *by C***. on April 25, 2013* I first read Love's Executioner a few years ago and was so taken with it, I've recommended it dozens of times. Recently, I listened to the audio version Love's Executioner: & Other Tales of Psychotherapy , which was great (it also includes an interesting interview with Irvin Yalom) and I heard some things I hadn't picked up when reading it. In fact, I realized this work has such depth, it is worth revisiting again and again. What makes it so good? It contains the wisdom of a master existential therapist, who is also a gifted storyteller (Love's Executioner is non-fiction, based on real case histories, but it reads like fine fiction). And what is existential psychotherapy? It begins with the idea that our fundamental psychological dis-ease results from difficulties baked into human existence, such as our fear of death and our ultimate aloneness. Or as Yalom writes in Love's Executioner prologue: There are "four givens that are particularly relevant to psychotherapy: the inevitability of death for each of us and for those we love, the freedom to make our lives as we will, our ultimate aloneness, and, finally, the absence of any obvious meaning or sense to life. However grim these givens may seem, they contain the seeds of wisdom and redemption. I hope to demonstrate, in these ten tales of psychotherapy, that it is possible to confront the truths of existence and harness their power in the service of personal change and growth." * That paragraph captures the core blueprint of the book, but if you stopped there you'd be missing out. Like all great artists, Yalom brings those essential issues to life so you feel them in your bones. He stops our breath through the stories, intimate details, and insights into the lives of some of his extraordinary patients (or sometimes "ordinary"ish, but made extraordinary in Yalom's capable hands). The tender truth often shimmers in Love's Executioner. We see the art of psychotherapy, and thus living, practiced by a master, both as a writer and a guide to how to midwife psychological wisdom. Other reviewers here have pointed out that Love's Executioner is must reading for therapists and those undergoing psychotherapy. This is true, and Yalom, is understandably a rock star among therapist, not just for his skillful prose (he is also an accomplished novelist), but his textbooks that have been read by at least two generations of therapists. But it would be a shame if this masterwork--and I do believe it's fair to call Love's Executioner his master work--weren't read by everyone. For it has something for everyone: whether you like fiction or non-fiction. Lovers of fiction get the storytelling and intimacy of a great novel. Readers of non-fiction know these are stories of real patients and get actionable take-aways. As noted, I plan to reread or relisten to this book periodically, knowing I'll pick up something new each time. Books don't get much better than this. * In Love's Executioner, Yalom notes that he doesn't belong to a psychological school of thought. Since I see existential psychological dilemmas as true for everyone, regardless of your philosophical or religious beliefs, I tend to agree with him. That said, I do believe this is still an outlook, and that there will be others with a different outlook that will consider existential therapy a school of thought. -I originally got a promotional/review copy of the audiobook, but think it is so good, I got extra copies and have given copies to friends and coworkers. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ dramatic and enlightening book *by S***T on December 28, 2025* very interesting book, for therapists or anyone else who wants to have an interesting and dramatic read ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Teaching through real-world experiences. *by V***R on September 12, 2024* Indeed, the term "fat lady" can be offensive if taken personally. However, viewing the book through the lens of a therapist's mind and acknowledging that therapists are human too, one may gain insights from it. A therapist must embrace their own humanity, biases, and imperfections to effectively assist a patient. This book could aid in fostering understanding, even when character traits vary. ## Frequently Bought Together - Love's Executioner: & Other Tales of Psychotherapy - The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients - Becoming Myself: A Psychiatrist's Memoir --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1501579-loves-executioner](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1501579-loves-executioner) --- *Product available on Desertcart Great Britain* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-04-30*