Customer Reviews

To Redeem One Person Is To Redeem The World: A Life of Frieda Fromm-Reichmann

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This is a fascinating, well-written, well-researched biography of the psychotherapist who cured Deborah Blau, the patient in the best selling novel, I Never Promised you a Rose Garden (c1977). Even recent reviews of "Rose Garden" indicate confusion about Hannah Green (a pseudonym) and Joanne Greenberg (the author of this autobiographically-based novel). This book straightens it all out while exploring the fascinating life of Frieda Fromm-Reichmann.

the author gave insight into the politics of the mental health field, from the philosopy of running private and public institutions to the competition between psychoanalysts, and competition beween the differant professions. From Reichman's story is written in the context of world history and the history and development of mental health treatment in the U.S.. All this plus the Freida Fromm-Reichman's philosopy and approach to analysis. The author provides a rich portrait embracing both the strengths and weaknesses of Fromm-Reichmann

The writer simply cannot write prose. Her attempt at metaphors are terribly jarring. I have never come across a published writer who was so bad.

Terribly disappointing as I love Frieda Fromm-Reichmann and have read her work with fascination and joy.

I found this book way too depressing. The author seemed to make a point that Dr. Frieda was not the saint she apeared to be in the famous book from Greenburg. In every sentence, it was reaking with some pessimistic streak, even in the depictions of the many photos I found fascinated by. I love Greenburg's book dearly, and to just know such a person as Dr. Fried existed was enough to give light to this world. I think the author of this book should have mentioned more of the fact that Friada did accomplish an enourmous amount... It was awful how the author refrained Frieda's untimely death over and over and over again, as if her life had a sad fate, despite all that she strived for. Even her work with the real Johanna Greenburg is underminded, immediately followed by a whole chapter about a patient she was unsuccessful to reach out.
Not recommended, although it is the only existing book I know about her, and I rushed to the library to get it as soon as I knew it was out. Too bad.