Here Now Next: Paul Goodman and the Origins of Gestalt Therapy

In this excellent intellectual biography, Taylor Stoehr presents a loving, clear-sighted appraisal of Paul Goodman's contributions to the formulation and practice of Gestalt Therapy. With telling anecdotes from Goodman's life, and a deft handling of the psychotherapeutic concepts, Stoehr summons a vivid picture of the therapy's development. This book is a welcome corrective to the tendency of Fritz Perls' larger-than-life persona to overshadow the contributions made by Goodman and others. It is also a highly illuminating companion read for anyone tackling Goodman and Perls' psychological magnum opus "Gestalt Therapy". For those looking for a capsule synopsis of Goodman's psychological work, I recommend Stoehr's pithy introduction to his edited volume of Goodman's briefer writings on psychology, "Nature Heals"

For anyone who is a student of Gestalt Therapy this book is a must. Stoehr's work gave me a deep appreciation for the intellectual legacy of Paul Goodman.