In Dan’s mind, therapists were for guys who punched holes in walls and those who cried during emotional movies, and that wasn’t him. He was a real man: honorable, respectful, and kind. He possessed the grit to become SWAT team leader, the strength to never let anything bother him, and the fortitude to always do the right thing.
But then, on a dating website, he met a petite, bleached-blond, Harley-riding psychiatrist, and everything changed. In just a few short years, she would lead him to question not only his grit and fortitude, but everything he knew to be true about himself and the man he’d become.
Told with unflinching honesty, raw humility, and a healthy dose of hilarity, Married to a Psychiatrist follows Dan’s inspiring journey as he collects new insights into himself while seeking to identify the source of his distorted self-image.
WARNING: This book contains profanity and explores themes around biased thinking, homophobia, disparaging behaviors, dysfunctional family dynamics, and other topics that sensitive readers may find offensive or disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Prochoda's memoir tells the story of his own psychological awakening after marrying a psychiatrist. He recounts how, while his previously unshakable countenance and outward coldness allowed him to succeed as a SWAT team leader and police officer, these characteristics were ultimately a detriment to meaningful communication and personal growth.
Prose: Prochoda's prose is clear, casual, and confessional in tone.
Originality: Married to a Psychiatrist stands apart through the author's uncommon willingness to expose his own frailties. Readers will undoubtedly relate to many of the defensive mechanisms that Prochoda once employed in his personal and professional life, while his path toward greater self-awareness is well conveyed.
Character/Execution: The growth Prochoda experiences throughout his psychological journey is palpable, while Fredi is a rich character in her own right. Readers–particularly men who might find themselves similarly 'stuck' in unhealthy patterns–will find much to inspire them.
Date Submitted: December 04, 2023
Prochoda is engagingly frank throughout, often exhibiting a welcome light touch, as when he notes that he originally wanted to write his memoir Eat, Pray, Love style but discovered that when he tried this the narrative was “as interesting to read as a service manual for a 1979 Toyota Corolla.” In the aim of helping others to understand the power of growth and vulnerability, he also is open about other shortcomings, including regrets about parenting, an affair during his first marriage, and an unrealistic desire for the mythical “perfect woman.”
The author isn’t shy about laying himself bare and sharing what he has learned from his wise wife, a Harley-riding, emotionally badass blonde he met online. Prochoda writes that his wife also grew up in a dysfunctional household but used her training as a psychiatrist to set healthy boundaries in every part of her life, including her relationship with Prochoda. Under her tutelage, Prochoda learns to do the same thing. This inviting but unflinching narrative will appeal to those seeking emotional growth, especially those who struggle to show it to those who they care about.
Takeaway: Incisive look at a man’s bold emotional growth, with a road map for others.
Comparable Titles: Owen Marcus’s Grow Up, David Kundtz’s Nothing's Wrong.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
NOTICE: CHANGE OF PUBLICATION DATE
Married to a Psychiatrst will be available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle on 2/23/2024
