In and Out the Garbage Pail
Fritz Perls' 1969 autobiography: his life and the making of gestalt therapy
At a glance
Criticism and limits
Masson's critique, The passage Masson quoted, A different impression
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Gestalt Therapy Verbatim, Gestalt therapy
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Fritz Perls and Gestalt therapy
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Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Fritz Perls' autobiography, published in 1969, the year before he died.
- It mixes memories of his life with reflections on how gestalt therapy came about.
- Its account of how Perls treated women has drawn sharp criticism.
Why it matters
- For readers who want the person behind gestalt therapy, warts included.
- It is a memoir, not a guide to the method.
Key facts
- Author
- Frederick S. (Fritz) Perls1
- Published
- 19692
- Publisher
- Real People Press, Lafayette, California; later Bantam (1972) and Gestalt Journal Press (1992)2
- Pages
- 296 (Bantam 1972 edition)2
- ISBN
- 0-911226-04-4 (Real People Press); 0-553-20253-7 (Bantam)2
- Genre
- Autobiography1
Criticism and limits
-
Masson's critique1
Jeffrey Masson quoted the book to argue that Perls was sexist and physically and emotionally abusive toward women.
-
The passage Masson quoted1
Perls describes subduing a woman in a group and saying: "I've beaten up more than one bitch in my life."
-
A different impression1
Therapist Barry Stevens, who met Perls in 1967, described him as "a very warm and gentle old gentleman now."
Read next
-
Perls at work, published the same year.
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The approach itself, separate from its founder.
Connections
Links
Sources
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