A college professor once said to this reviewer that "writers are liars, and we shouldn't have to apologize for that." Reading this book brings that thought to mind as Nobel Prize-winning author Coetzee (Waiting for the Barbarians) and psychologist Kurtz discuss thought, memory, and personal narratives. The relay conversation between the two is engaging as they explore psychoanalysis and a patient's understanding and relation of his or her story and the doctor's obligation to encourage the authentic voice to emerge (it's not that different from writing literature). Fans of fiction will love the deep investigation of what it means to tell the truth from a scientific perspective. As is often the case with thought and brain study, literature explication, and science writing, people impassioned with the work are very thorough, and that translates to the page. However, at times the text becomes a bit heavy and less accessible to those who are unfamiliar with the subject. Nonetheless, the writing is superb and poetic. VERDICT For anyone interested in psychology, memoirs, or considering penning a memoir, this may be essential reading to build a basis for understanding self-examination. [See Prepub Alert, 3/23/15.]—Kaitlin Connors, Virginia Beach P.L.