The Mummy at the Dining Room Table by Jeffrey Kottler and Jon Carlson, Jossey-Bass/ Wiley, $24.95/拢14.99, ISBN 0787965413 Reviewed by Roy Herbert
THE introduction to The Mummy at the Dining Room Table is written by the authors. They are therapists. They explain that they are members of a profession 鈥渨ell trained and highly experienced in all the nuances of communication, problem conceptualisation and interpersonal relationships鈥�. They write the books and manuals that guide other clinicians, say Jeffrey Kottler and Jon Carlson, who between them have written 75 books.
The Mummy at the Dining Room Table is a collection of memorable cases tackled by therapists from all over the world. The patients鈥� stories are here but you also get 鈥渁 peek at how some of the greatest minds of our generation鈥� apply their talents. All this raises the reader鈥檚 expectations.
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The first case is one of Kottler鈥檚. A man arrived who wanted his nose cut off because of a pungent smell he could not escape. He said it was turbul. But this confused the therapist only for a moment. 鈥淥h, you mean terrible?鈥� Later he remarks that the man鈥檚 accent was clearly that of rural Virginia. 鈥淭his was not surprising as we were in rural Virginia.鈥�
The remainder of these cases are undoubtedly extraordinary and enough to hold interest for a time. This is not a book to read from cover to cover and the styles of writing vary from plodding to adequate. Lack of editing leaves some labouring to do. The book鈥檚 title, with its pun, is meant to be sensational. The titles of the individual stories are, too.