Way Worse Than Being A Dentist: The Lawyer's Quest for Meaning [Kindle Edition]

Will Meyerhofer (Author)

Book Description

This is a collection of Will Meyerhofer's notorious "In-House Counseling" column from AboveTheLaw.com, with additional new material.

Product Details

• File Size: 842 KB
• Print Length: 286 pages
• Publisher: BookBaby; 1 edition (October 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005TOH0RI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #481,076 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore at Your Own Peril March 9, 2012

By james harberson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Going to law school has become, for most, financial suicide. Those lacking decent marks at elite schools are doomed, increasingly, to debt servitude in a job market overrun with Z-grade law school graduates chasing fewer and fewer positions. Even those getting good jobs dwell in the perpetual horror that is Biglaw: [expletive deleted] partners, impossible workloads, stress wedded to sleepless nights.

Will Meyerhofer's "Way Worse Than Being a Dentist" lyrically exposes these excesses while providing a bracing antidote to the magical thinking leading so many aimless college kids into the law school/law firm meat grinder. "Working for the Man" (pp. 149-152) is itself worth the price of admission. It concerns an especially odious client Will met at Sullivan & Cromwell. He was known simply as Mr. Rolex and "no doubt...left his mother's womb screaming abuse into a cell phone." This character sketch recalls the infamous "Master of Human [expletive deleted] speak" from Michael Lewis' wonderful book, Liar's Poker. It's a wonderful essay deserving widespread attention.

Those considering law school must read this book. Hopefully it will dissuade them from going. Those in law school must read this book. Hopefully it will persuade them to drop out. Lawyers should also read it. It affords a critical perspective upon legal practice and personalities that will help lawyers curb self-destructive habits and cope with the caustic monsters overrunning the industry. Will Meyerhofer has done more to restore health and sanity to law practice than perhaps anyone in the last 50 years. Ironically, he did so by quitting the law.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for prospective law students October 17, 2011

By uesjd

Format:Paperback

When I went to law school, the two books that every incoming law student had read were "One L" and "The Paper Chase." Those two books will give you a sense of what law school is like. But if you want to get an idea of what you'll have to deal with after law school, when you've become a practicing lawyer, you should read this book. You'll learn why so many lawyers are unhappy with their chosen profession, so that if you do decide to become a lawyer, you'll at least be going in with your eyes open -- and you may gain some insights into how to keep it from devouring your soul.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read, especially for those considering law school November 20, 2011

By Michelle Fabio, Bleeding Espresso

Format:Kindle Edition

If you are considering law school or are already there, Way Worse Than Being a Dentist by Will Meyerhofer is a must-read.

Meyerhofer is a former BigLaw attorney who is now known as The People's Therapist because, with his Master's in Social Work, he counsels lawyers and ex-lawyers, among others; he expertly weaves his own experiences with those of his patients (obviously in non-identifiable ways) to discuss some aspects of being a Big Law attorney that aren't discussed very often or very openly.

I love Law School Undercover by Professor X for insight into what law school is like, and The Young Lawyer's Jungle Book by Thane Messinger does a excellent job of laying out the logistics of law firm life, but Meyerhofer's book goes deeper and hits on the emotions and sentiments of attorneys who have worked in BigLaw as both partners and associates. Meyerhofer delves into not-often talked about issues like demanding partners, intermittent boredom as an associate, and office romances, offering support and advice for how to begin to cope with various situations.

Meyerhofer's writing style is clean and casual, making it a true pleasure to read, and the book itself is organized as a collection of his columns from Above the Law -- great for reading on the go and digesting as much or as little as you wish in a given sitting.

This book would also be useful for recent law graduates and practicing attorneys, especially those in Big Law who perhaps feel alone and not sure where to turn or what to do next. This is without a doubt one of the best books I've come across about the realities of working in the legal profession, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Five stars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely therapeutic!! Must Read for all lawyers and law students (and people thinking of law school) December 20, 2012

By SunnyBunny

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book gave me peace of mind and comfort that even my therapist could not. I highly recommend this book to any lawyer who feels isolated and having a rough time in a law firm (because all the nonsense Will talks about goes on in mid to small firms too).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read! December 7, 2011

By Falafel

Format:Paperback

While "Way Worse..." relates to the frightening situation among lawyers, in no way do you need to be an attorney to appreciate the brilliance of this book. Not only is it an interesting and vivid read, Meyerhofer's book is also incredibly honest and important. I felt compelled to share this with anyone who has pondered the idea of attending law school, or has already encountered the realization of this lifestyle. My sense is that Meyerhofer is pointing out the purple elephant in the room; he is voicing the detrimental situation among hard working people that often goes painfully unspoken. If you're finding yourself overwhelmed, overworked, and basically abused in the workplace (whether in the legal setting or not), you should know you're not alone, not even close, and the company of this book can help. I'm not an attorney, but I can relate to everything Will says in one way or another. Please pass this book on to anyone seriously contemplating a career in law, or considering an exceedingly pricey education. On the surface, education seems like the obvious right path to take, and those student loans start to look a lot like Monopoly money, but this book can really help you see the reality of the situation-- you might have problems that far exceed the ironic fact that you may not be able to afford to frame that fancy degree. This book could be one of the most important investments you'll ever make. A must-read!

More About the Author

Will Meyerhofer, JD LCSW is a psychotherapist and author living in New York City. For information on Will's psychotherapy practice, visit www.aquietroom.com.

Will writes a popular column, "In-House Counseling," for www.abovethelaw.com, and also keeps up a blog, www.thepeoplestherapist.com, which has received nearly 1,000,000 views since it was created in 2010.

In March 2013, Will published a comic novel, "Bad Therapist: A Romance" about a mild-mannered New York City therapist who falls in love with a blue alien from outer space.

Will's first book, "Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy," an introduction to the philosophy and ideas underlying psychotherapy, was published in December, 2010.

Will's second book, published in October 2011, was "Way Worse Than Being A Dentist (The Lawyer's Quest for Meaning)", based on his columns from AboveTheLaw.com. No book contains more honesty about the sad state of the legal profession. It has consistently remained on the best seller lists in its category.