Words Against the Void (Revised & Expanded Edition): Poems by an Existential Psychologist

Tom Greening is a long time existential psychologist, professor, and poet. In this collection of poems, Dr. Greening explores many challenging topics, incuding the meaning of our existence, the challenges of the medical model in psychology, war, religion, and our paradoxical human nature. All these topics are approached with his typical wit and humor. Whether a psychologist, mental health proefssional, or just someone interested in the many challenges of life, this collection of poems will make you think, laugh, and maybe even cry.

I suppose you could, on a cold winter night, curl up in front of a fireplace and read these poems by Tom Greening. However, this could be dangerous to your psyche because the incongruence between place and poems would be too great. These poems, despite their self-deprecating humor, laser right through our defenses and reveal us to ourselves. If we are flying too high, these poems bring us down to earth. If we are feeling too low, they raise us up. If we think we are intellectuals who have it all figured out, they make a face at us. If we are panicked by our ignorance, they walk by our side and tell us jokes to cheer us up. Tom Greening and Herbert Lochenkopf pretend to be fools, clowns, jesters; but if you get their message, you will stop laughing. Laughter and tears just don't mix.

David N. Elkins, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Pepperdine University