A Day of Floating Life
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Summary
"You and I, all of us in this world, are but sojourners in a life that is either remembered or forgotten; such, in broad outline, is the way of things. Time rushes past; the rememberer and the remembered are alike gone. The day when all will be forgotten is near at hand; the hour when no one will remember you is close upon you. Forever remember this: you will soon be nameless, with nowhere to go and no place to arrive."
In *A Day of Floating Life*, the existential psychology master Irvin D. Yalom once again uses stories from the consulting room to reveal the truth of human nature. What differs from his earlier books is that Yalom, in his later years, writes in a gentler voice, while going deeper into the subject of death.
Ten stories that probe the meaning of life: from an old man who strives for a witness to his existence, to a doctor who uses hoarding to avoid intimacy; from a patient with advanced cancer who reexamines the meaning of life, to a supremely gifted writer troubled by the past...
Each visitor faces a different problem, but all these problems ultimately come back to one thing: the anxiety of facing death and the original meaning of life.
With his sincerity, empathy, and unconditional regard—and, of course, his wisdom—Yalom forms clear, reliable, and profound connections with each visitor, and often "unexpectedly" creates unique therapeutic methods that simply cannot be found in the books and courses of traditional therapists.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers interested in existential psychology and the counseling process
- People facing death anxiety, experiences of loss, or confusion about the meaning of life
- Readers who enjoy understanding human nature and the healing process through true stories
- Counseling practitioners and trainees, who may use it as reflective material
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting a systematic psychology theory textbook or technical manual
- People hoping for quick self-help techniques and step-by-step lists
- Readers who are sensitive to illness, death, and related topics and should not engage with them at present
Reading tips
- Read one or two stories at a time, and afterward set aside time to record your feelings and associations.
- No need to read straight through; start with the chapters closest to your current situation.
- When something resonates, try writing down what you would like to say to the visitor or to the author.
- If your own experiences of loss come up, slow down and talk with someone you trust when needed.
About the publisher
In addition to science and technology and professional publishing, the books in our catalog from China Machine Press also reflect a sustained focus on psychology, computing, management, finance and economics, and social sciences. In psychology, the catalog includes works by C. G. Jung and introductions to analytical psychology, as well as applied topics such as stress and health, and addiction and healing. In computing, it features Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (JavaScript Edition). Management and finance titles include Administrative Behavior (4th Edition), The Price of Inequality (Collector's Edition), and This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly (Commemorative Edition). In the philosophy and history of science, there is The Worldview: The Third Edition. Relevant authors include C. G. Jung, William McGuire, Sonu Shamdasani, and Gabor Maté. Public information is limited; the above summarizes the publisher's profile based solely on the books in our catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 专家导读与赞誉
- 第1章 曲线治愈
- 第2章 虚实人生
- 第3章 芭蕾舞者与爱情刽子手之舞
- 第4章 谢谢你，莫莉
- 第5章 围城莫入
- 第6章 给孩子们做个榜样
- 第7章 放下过去会变好的执念
- 第8章 你自己得个绝症试试
- 第9章 三声哭泣
- 第10章 一日浮生
- 致读者
- 致谢
- 后记
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About the author
Irvin D. Yalom is a significant author in the fields of psychotherapy and psychological writing, with four of his works included in this collection. His writing spans both professional textbooks and documentary literature for general readers: on the one hand, he has written a classic textbook on existential psychotherapy, systematically presenting the theory and practice of this approach; on the other, he tells stories centered on love, death, and the meaning of existence, and turns his gaze toward himself, reviewing his personal growth and professional path in memoir form. These works combine the professional depth of psychology with literary expression and are often classified under applied psychology, social psychology, and documentary literature. They serve both as learning references for therapists and as engaging reading for ordinary readers reflecting on life’s questions. Public information is limited, so details of his life are not elaborated here.
Zhou Ming (1934–2025), a native of Zhouzhi, Shaanxi, was a writer and senior editor. After graduating from the Department of Chinese at Lanzhou University in 1955, he worked for many years at the China Writers Association, where he served as executive deputy editor of People's Literature and deputy director of the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature. He authored more than forty collections of essays and reportage and edited series including History in Reflection, making his mark in both literary editing and writing. The library holds three of his works: A Floating Life of One Day, Information Management (2nd Edition), and Services Marketing, spanning social psychology, examinations, and management. Regarding his academic works, publicly available information on their background and influence is limited, so a detailed account is difficult; readers may understand them in light of his long experience in literary editing.
