What can A Christmas Carol teach us about how people change?

Can a gift have a meaning that we don't suspect?

Offering incisive psychoanalytical insight from stories told out of everyday lives, these tales by practising psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz present a moment of reflection, wisdom and some much-needed sanity over the festive period. A preview for his forthcoming book, The Examined Life, published on 3 January 2013 and serialised on Radio 4 Book of the Week.

Contents:

Exclusive to the ebook: 'The gift', 'An unexpected ending', 'On knowing'

A preview from the forthcoming book, The Examined Life: 'How lovesickness can keep us from love'

Advance praise for The Examined Life:

'The Examined Life is a fascinating collection of quiet stories about very real human predicaments: the listening cure at its best' - Patrick McGrath

'I couldn't put this down-I read about other people, but learned about myself at the same time. Real stories can be so much more fascinating than fictional ones, especially with Stephen Grosz. No preaching, no clichés-just wisdom.' - Victoria Hislop

'A beautifully judged, wonderfully readable book with a clear and kind voice. There is a rare integrity in the writing: no showing off, just honest attention to each trusted relationship. I read the whole thing in one sitting, cover to cover' - Ruth Padel