Al?turi de profesie ?i de rela?iile sociale, ?ntemeierea unei familii reprezint?, pentru Adler, una dintre cele trei mari sarcini ale unei vie?i ?mplinite. Antologia de fa?? reune?te concep?iile adleriene asupra dinamicii sexualit??ii, iubirii ?i mariajului, idei aflate ?n v?dit contrast cu viziunea lui Freud. C?ci, dac? pentru ultimul, personalitatea este determinat? ?n esen?? de pulsiuni, ?n cazul lui Adler, adaptarea la lumea social? st? ?n centrul personalit??ii ?n ?ntregul ei. Pe l?ng? descifrarea "protestului viril", tem? crucial? pentru ?n?elegerea feminismului, cartea face ample referiri la mecanismele specifice vie?ii de cuplu ?i la modul ?n care leg?turile conjugale pot fi perturbate de educa?ia sexual? inadecvat?, de lupta pentru putere sau de atitudinile discordante fa?? de sexualitate ?i familie. Scriitura clar? ?i multiplele ilustr?ri de caz recomand? aceast? antologie nu doar studen?ilor ?i psihologilor practicieni, ci ?i publicului larg. "Adler a ?n?eles c? oamenii sunt mai ?nt?i de toate fiin?e sociale ?i, de aceea, a sus?inut c? problemele ?i conflictele din cuplu nu reflect? patologii personale, ci reprezint? mai degrab? dificult??i la nivelul cooper?rii dintre parteneri. Adlerienii cred c? abilit??ile de care e nevoie pentru o rela?ie s?n?toas? pot fi ?nv??ate. Nimeni nu are ?n gene talentul bunei rela?ion?ri." – Jon Carlson, coautorul c?r?ii Mumia de la masa din sufragerie"Erotismul nu este niciodat? doar o pulsiune sexual? animalic?. Este mai degrab? o parte ?nalt specializat? a sentimentului social uman ce reflect? ?ntreaga personalitate ?i, astfel, ?i nivelul conect?rii la via?a social? ?i preg?tirea pentru o via?? ?n doi." – Alfred Adler

n ultimele secole, omenirea a evoluat spectaculos la nivel intelectul i tehnic. Numai c, n planul dezvoltrii emoionale, a rmas cu multe veacuri n urm, susine Fromm. Cum se explic i cum poate fi soluionat acest decalaj socio-istoric dintre minte i inim Fcnd apel la date din istorie, psihologie social i psihanaliz, prezentul volum descrie modul n care destrmarea lumii medievale, cu ierarhiile sale stabile i securizante, a adus lumii occidentale moderne un confort material i o democratizare nesperate, ns cu preul unei anxieti venite din izolarea social, din dezrdcinare. n acest context, fuga de libertate" devine o fals soluie la alienare, prin care omul zilelor noastre e tentat s-i cedeze libertatea unor regimuri autoritariste, care, dei l transform ntr-o marionet, i ofer un sentiment de apartenen i de siguran. Ca antidot la nregimentare i extremism, Fromm mizeaz pe contientizarea resorturilor existenei noastre sociale, proces care ne poate face mai maturi la nivel afectiv i mai autonomi n gndire. Fuga de libertate apare atunci cnd eul se dovedete prea slab - sau prea slbit - pentru a-i mai asuma rspunderea propriilor alegeri, renunnd ca atare la puterea de decizie. Fromm vede n aceast capitulare o trstur inaugural pentru ceea ce el numete caracter autoritar sau sado-masochist. -- Dorin Liviu Btfoi - Romnia literarNumai dac omul va stpni societatea i va subordona angrenajul economic scopurilor fericirii umane, i numai dac va participa activ la procesul social, va putea s nving ceea ce l duce acum la disperare — singurtatea lui i sentimentul de neputin. - Erich Fromm

Cum am putea ?n?elege sensibilitatea crescut?, irascibilitatea, vulnerabilitatea, sugestibilitatea, egoismul, apeten?a pentru fantastic, ?nstr?inarea de realitate, dorin?a de a domina, r?utatea, bun?tatea care duce p?n? la sacrificiu, cochet?ria, la?itatea ?i frica unor oameni pe care ?i ?nt?lnim ?n cabinet sau ?n via?a de zi cu zi???n cartea de fa??, Alfred Adler ne ofer? un r?spuns: din sentimentul de inferioritate din copil?rie se na?te o intens? dorin?? de putere care ajunge ?n cele din urm? s? fie limitat? ?i s? se piard? sub presiunea cerin?elor societ??ii ?i a semnalelor lansate de c?tre sentimentul social. Astfel, ?ntregul tablou al nevrozei ?i toate simptomele acesteia sunt influen?ate, ba chiar determinate, de un iluzoriu scop final care ar aduce cre?terea stimei de sine.

Do you feel broken or lost? Are you trapped by fear, loneliness, and heartache, but unable to see a way out? Are you unhappy in your relationships, and without a solution to make things right? If you are searching for answers to all of your struggles, Vladimire Calixte’s Naked and Transparent: Six Vital Tools for Knowing Yourself and Attracting Healthy Relationships can help you reclaim your life and help you attract more love, success, peace, and joy than you’ve ever imagined! Filled with personal experiences about love, loss, and abandonment, Naked goes beyond a traditional self-help book. It is a refreshing, honest, and stimulating experience that will help you open your heart and soul, and discover a brand-new you! Part workbook and part memoir, Naked is an enjoyable yet informative must-read for women, men, and teens who suffer from low self-esteem, unworthiness, anxiety, shame, guilt, feelings of failure, and toxic relationships.

No one is a worse guide to success than your typical successful man. He seldom understands the reasons of his own success; and when he is asked by a popular magazine to give his experiences for the benefit of the youth of a whole nation, it is impossible for him to be natural and sincere. He knows the kind of thing that is expected from him, and if he didn’t come to London with half a crown in his pocket he probably did something equally silly, and he puts that down, and the note of the article or interview is struck, and good-bye to genuine truth!

Most entrepreneurs and people in business misunderstand the purpose and power of meditation and how it complements and energizes business leaders. It is often thought that meditation is a tool to relax, a tool to rid unwanted stress and a means to dilute energies that activate the mind. All that is mostly untrue. Meditation is not just about seeking serenity and harmony. It is not about donning a veil of peace and relinquishing confrontational means. It is not just about contemplating the higher truths and the philosophical meaning of life.?Meditation is about empowering your physical presence?with the powers of the universe. It's about?becoming the force of attraction?instead of merely learning the laws of attraction. It is about?seeking and uniting the divine energy within you so that you may leap forward and make your inspiration take form and take flight.? Meditation is both the object and the subject of silence; it is the nexus of the universe and the energy that binds it. Energies flow in waves and transmit in vibrations. How you vibrate is more important than the words you chose. Meditation gives you a path to the right vibration and is best taken when the mind is disciplined and silent. Words and ideas that echo in the head are mere distractions that mindfulness and focus need to arrest. Meditation is the single most important discipline you need if you want to conquer your destiny. Is This Book For You?This book is dedicated to those that want to smash through the glass ceilings they have put over themselves.?Greatness is already within you, you just need to learn how to release it. This book will teach you exactly how to?extract every ounce of greatness you have,?and then some. Don't wait any longer! Scroll up and click the 'Buy Now' button and learn how Meditation is an integral part of success and why you should get started NOW!

At the beginning a misconception must be removed from the path. Many people, if not most, look on literary taste as an elegant accomplishment, by acquiring which they will complete themselves, and make themselves finally fit as members of a correct society. They are secretly ashamed of their ignorance of literature, in the same way as they would be ashamed of their ignorance of etiquette at a high entertainment, or of their inability to ride a horse if suddenly called upon to do so. There are certain things that a man ought to know, or to know about, and literature is one of them.

Jaime fumer...et je vais arrêter ! Devenez non-fumeur sans prendre de poids. Le Livre est un succès international, déjà traduit en 10 langues! Ce n’est qu’en découvrant et en comprenant pourquoi vous aimez fumer que vous pourrez arrêter la cigarette sans avoir l’impression de renoncer à quelque chose d’important. **PERMIS DE FUMER** Si vous lisez ce livre, vous allez pouvoir continuer à fumer… Au fil des pages, Andreas Jopp explique point par point et avec humour les schémas de pensée qui empêchent d’arrêter. Il démontre comment la nicotine déprogramme le cerveau, rend vulnérable au stress et empêche de trouver le calme. Une fois ces mécanismes compris, vous pourrez arrêter sans difficulté. Et durablement. **NE PAS PRENDRE DE POIDS** Arrêter de fumer est plus facile quand on n’a pas tout le temps faim et qu’on se sent bien. Avec les conseils alimentaires d’Andreas Jopp, vous pourrez manger davantage sans prendre de poids. **LES QUESTIONS SUIVANTES SERONT REPONDUES** EST-CE QUE VOUS AIMEZ FUMER -Comment la nicotine transforme notre cerveau et sentiment desatisfaction -Pourquoi on se sent mieux quand on fume -Et si l’addiction au tabac était plus forte et plus rapide à cause des additifs -Pourquoi les cigarettes légères sont plus dangereuses que lesnormales LA CIGARETTE ET LE MENTAL -Les fumeurs ont-ils des sautes d’humeur plus fréquentes et desproblèmes de concentration -Pourquoi on fume plus quand on est stressé. -Pourquoi on a l’impression que la cigarette nous relaxe. -Fumer rend-il plus éveillé et plus concentré -Les ex-fumeurs sont-ils moins satisfaits que les fumeurs LES STRATGIES LES PLUS EFFiCACES POUR ARRTER DE FUMER -Pourquoi l’hypnose marche pour arrêter de fumer -La meilleure faon de faire face aux symptmes du sevrage. -Comment éviter les reculades et les rechutes. ARRTER DE FUMER, RESTER MINCE -Les fumeurs sont-ils plus minces que les non-fumeurs La réalité -Comment garder tout simplement son poids en arrêtant de fumer. -Pourquoi le sucré entretient la dépendance à la nicotine. -Comment gérer au mieux son poids, sa faim et sa bonne humeur. -Conseils pratiques et listes de course pour rester mince EN MEILLEURE FORME -Améliorer votre soufe et votre condition physique -Réduire rapidement les risques d’infarctus et de cancers Andreas Jopp **Journaliste médical, coach pour non-fumeurs et auteur de best-sellers. **Andreas Jopp travaille aussi depuis 10 ans avec l'hypnose chez les fumeurs. **L'hypnose fait partie des stratégies les plus efficaces contre le tabac ! *Pour les MP3 de hypnose: www.nichtraucherin30Tagen.de/francais**

It is an acknowledged fact that we perceive errors in the work of others more readily than in our own.?—Leonardo da Vinci??In this Beginner's Psychology I have tried to write, as nearly as might be, the kind of book that I should have found useful when I was beginning my own study of psychology. That was nearly thirty years ago; and I read Bain, and the Mills, and Spencer, and Rabier, and as much of Wundt as a struggling acquaintance with German would allow. Curiously enough, it was a paragraph in James Mill, most unpsychological of psychologists, that set me on the introspective track,—though many years had to pass before I properly understood what had put him off it. ??A book like this would have saved me a great deal of labour and vexation of spirit. Nowadays, of course, there are many introductions to psychology, and the beginner has a whole library of text-books to choose from. Still, they are of varying merit; and, what is perhaps more important, their temperamental appeal is diverse.?I do not find it easy to relate this new book to the older Primer,—which will not be further revised. There is change all through; every paragraph has been rewritten. ??The greatest change is, however, a shift of attitude; I now lay less stress than I did upon knowledge and more upon point of view. The beginner in any science is oppressed and sometimes disheartened by the amount he has to learn; so many men have written, and so many are writing; the books say such different things, and the magazine articles are so upsetting!

Tehnici simple ?i amuzante pentru ?mbun?t??irea memoriei Ui?i mereu unde ??i la?i cheile? Nu mai ?tii zilele de na?tere ale prietenilor, iar atunci c?nd ??i este prezentat cineva ?i ui?i imediat numele? ??i aduci aminte c? trebuie s? mergi la o ?nt?lnire dup? ce a ?nceput deja? Dac? primul lucru la care te g?nde?ti ?n urma acestor constat?ri este c? te vei trezi ?n cur?nd ?ntr-o lume f?r? amintiri, temerea ta este nefondat?. Nu ?i-ai pierdut min?ile, ci doar cheile, iar ?ntre timp ai g?sit cartea care te poate ajuta s? ??i ?mbun?t??e?ti memoria ?i s? ??i ?nt?re?ti capacitatea mental?. Pornind de la cele mai recente cercet?ri ?n domeniu, autorii ne ofer? explica?ii clare despre modul ?n care func?ioneaz? memoria. Creierul uman este un organ mult mai complex, mai flexibil, mai maleabil ?i mai u?or de re?nnoit dec?t se credea. Ca ?i ?n cazul mu?chilor, antrenarea creierului poate duce la rezultate extraordinare. Cele 8 capitole ale lucr?rii sunt u?or de parcurs ?i con?in cele mai eficiente instrumente de ascu?ire a memoriei. Exerci?iile practice, sfaturile ?i trucurile ne ?nva?? cum s? ne concentr?m mai bine, at?t la procesul de codificare a informatiilor, c?t ?i la procesul de recuperare a lor din amintire. Prin cre?terea capacit??ii de a re?ine lucrurile importante pentru noi, se ?mbun?t??e?te garantat ?i calitatea vie?ii. A?adar, dac? ai ?ndoieli ?n leg?tur? cu eficien?a memoriei tale sau ??i dore?ti, pur ?i simplu, s? re?ii lucrurile cu mai mult? u?urin??, ai ?ncredere ?n Doctorul memoriei! Specialitatea lui sunt amintirile clare, complete ?i de durat?.

Femeile ?i b?rba?ii tr?iesc ?n lumi diferite… create de cuvinte diferite. Cartea Ce spun eu ?i ce ?n?elegi tu. De ce b?rba?ii ?i femeile vorbesc limbi diferite este un adev?rat fenomen cultural ?i intelectual care s-a aflat aproape patru ani pe lista de bestselleruri New York Times, din care opt luni pe primul loc. Este cartea ce a adus ?n aten?ia publicului diferen?ele de gen din modurile de vorbire. Cu o combina?ie rar? de perspicacitate ?tiin?ific? ?i scriere ?nc?nt?toare ?i amuzant?, Tannen arat? cum de este posibil ca b?rba?ii ?i femeile s? aib? o impresie total diferit? despre ce s-a spus ?n cadrul unei conversa?ii.

ntmplri reale despre o experien unicCu toii avem de nfruntat adversiti din cnd n cnd. Cu toii suntem uneori triti. Cu toii suntem cteodat prea ocupai, prea mulumii de noi nine sau prea apsai de povara propriilor probleme ca s mai apreciem lucrurile pozitive din vieile noastre. Colecia Poveti adevrate“ i aduce cazuri reale, ntmplri din viaa unor oameni obinuii, ce ne vorbesc despre curaj i buntate, despre binecuvntrile i miracolele vieii, amintindu-ne c nu suntem singuri, c putem rzbate chiar i n cele mai ntunecate zile, c nc exist buntate n lume.Venirea pe lume a celui de-al doilea copil nu nseamn neaprat naterea unei rivaliti ntre frai, dac tii cum s l pregteti pe friorul mai mare pentru eveniment. S gseti haine de gravid, drgue i la un pre accesibil, se poate dovedi la fel de probabil ca i ctigul la loto… Cum te pregteti pentru naterea unor triplei Sarcina, naterea i primele ore i zile ca mmic a unui nou-nscut te pot coplei sau umple de team – n special dac ai fost bombardat cu poveti de speriat i informaii distorsionate, dac temerile sau ngrijorrile nu i au fost ascultate cu atenie ori dac lucrurile nu decurg aa cum i ai propus sau ai sperat. 34 de ntmplri adevrate despre bucuriile i dificultile sarcinii i ale naterii, despre clipele magice legate de minunea care crete nuntrul tu.

Procesul hipnotic este unul complex ?i variat ca tr?iri, care de-a lungul timpului ?i-a dovedit eficien?a ?n psihoterapie. Volumul de fa?? porne?te de la ideea c? hipnoza reprezint? o metod? adjuvant? cu caracter dinamic ?n contextul terapeutic. Caracteristicile legate de identificarea unui anume nivel de sugestibilitate, al?turi de manifest?rile tr?ite ?n stare de trans? vor avea ecou diferit, ?n func?ie de fiecare client, c?t ?i de situa?ia pe care acesta o aduce ?n cadrul terapeutic.Volumul "Hipnoza ?n psihoterapie" contribuie la literatura de specialitate cu rezultate ale unora dintre ultimele cercet?ri ?n domeniu, prezint? modele inedite de scenarii de induc?ie hipnotic? ?i de ad?ncire a transei, precum ?i studii de caz elocvente pentru o serie de tulbur?ri ?i de conjuncturi ?nt?lnite ?n cabinet. Este structurat ?ntr-o parte teoretic? ?i o parte practic?, av?nd numeroase exemple ce atest? aplicabilitatea hipnozei ?n multiple afec?iuni. Ca noutate, lucrarea de fa?? abordeaz? hipnoza ?n situa?ii precum na?terea, infertilitatea, dependen?ele, stima de sine sc?zut?, afec?iuni oncologice, tulbur?ri de stres postraumatic ?i nu numai. Volumul se adreseaz? ?n primul r?nd speciali?tilor ?i apoi publicului larg, cu inten?ia de a-l familiariza cu acest instrument de lucru activ ?n psihoterapie, care a fost ?i r?m?ne hipnoza.

Interac?iunea cu persoanele dificile poate fi foarte demoralizatoare. Ea ??i poate tulbura starea emo?ional? ?i te poate ?mpiedica s? ??i atingi ?elurile. Avem de?a face cu oameni dificili, practic, tot timpul, at?t ?n rela?iile profesionale, c?t ?i ?n via?a de zi cu zi. ?i ?nt?lnim frecvent ?n situa?ii ?n care stresul poate face un om, de obicei ra?ional, s? se comporte ca un b?d?ran, s? devin? brusc ner?bd?tor, s? ac?ioneze sub imperiul nervilor – de?i, uneori, poate ap?rea ?i o combina?ie a acestor trei situa?ii. Mul?i oameni dificili nu ??i dau seama c? se comport? ur?t, ?n vreme ce al?ii se comport? sistematic ?n acest fel deoarece au impresia c? reu?esc s? ?i domine pe ceilal?i ?n via?a cotidian?.

V? ?ngrijoreaz? apatia partenerului din ultima vreme? V? irit? zg?rcenia prietenilor? Sau v? ?nfurie nep?sarea colegilor de birou?Fie c? e vorba despre minusurile observate la al?ii sau de propriile defecte, cartea de fa?? v? invit? s? explora?i ?i s? integra?i ?ntr-un mod constructiv ?i s?n?tos toate aceste aspecte de ?umbr?“ ale vie?ii voastre.Folosind concepte psihologice accesibile (proiec?ie, rezonan??, polaritate), Ruediger Dahlke demonstreaz? prin exemple din realitatea curent? ?n ce fel pute?i transforma sl?biciunile ?n puncte forte ?i asperit??ile interpersonale ?n oportunit??i de cre?tere. G?ndirea ?n ?alb ?i negru“ va fi astfel ?nlocuit? de o con?tientizare a nuan?elor ?i multiplelor ?fe?e“ ale vie?ii, oferind cititorului ?ansa de a ac?iona mai ?n?elept, mai pu?in tensionat, cu acel echilibru specific persoanelor care ?i-au reg?sit centrul.

Rela?ii interpersonale intense ?i haotice, accese de furie, impulsivitate, amenin??ri cu abandonul sau cu suicidul… dup? ce ai cunoscut ?ndeaproape o astfel de persoan? r?m?i adesea cu un gust amar ?i cu ?ntrebarea: ?Unde am gre?it?" ?n spatele acestui tablou ?nnegurat, se afl? ?ns? drama protagonistului – temeri profunde, o senza?ie de vid interior, ne?ncredere fundamental? ?n sine.Lumea unui ?borderline" este ?n alb ?i negru, acut?, direct?, f?r? nuan?e, cu at?t mai impresionant?, cu c?t ace?ti oameni sunt capabili s? duc? o via?? func?ional?. Pot fi partenerul de cuplu, colega de serviciu, amicul din copil?rie.Cartea de fa??, bazat? pe informa?ii din cele mai noi cercet?ri ?n domeniu, reprezint? un ghid cuprinz?tor prin h??i?urile acestei personalit??i aflate la grani?a dintre nevroz? ?i psihoz?. Scris? ?ntr-un limbaj accesibil, ea se adreseaz? at?t terapeu?ilor, c?t ?i publicului larg, aduc?nd lumin? asupra posibilelor cauze ale acestei tulbur?ri, descriindu-i plastic tr?s?turile prin intermediul a numeroase exemple, ajut?ndu-te s? ?n?elegi persoana cu borderline de l?ng? tine ?i s? creezi pun?i c?tre ea.Cea mai important? parte a oric?rei terapii este rela?ia dintre pacient ?i terapeut. Aceast? interac?iune formeaz? baza ?ncrederii, constan?ei obiectului ?i a intimit??ii emo?ionale. Terapeutul trebuie s? devin? o figur? de ?ncredere, o oglind? care s? reflecte o identitate coerent? ?n dezvoltare. Pornind de la aceast? rela?ie, persoana borderline ?nva?? s? extind? ?i asupra altora a?tept?rile adecvate ?i ?ncrederea. – Jerold Kreisman, Hal StrausAspectul fizic al lui Jennifer la ?edin?ele de terapie fluctua dramatic. C?nd venea direct de la serviciu era ?mbr?cat? ?ntr-o ?inut? business, eman?nd maturitate ?i rafinament. Dar ?n zilele ei libere, ap?rea ?n pantaloni scur?i, cu ?osete p?n? la genunchi ?i cu codi?e ?mpletite; ?n aceste ?edin?e se comporta ca o feti?? cu voce sub?ire ?i vocabular mult mai limitat. Uneori se transforma chiar sub ochii doctorului Gray. Putea fi plin? de intui?ie ?i inteligent?, colabor?nd pentru ob?inerea unei mai bune ?n?elegeri de sine, iar apoi devenea o copil? cochet? ?i seduc?toare, declar?ndu-se incapabil? s? func?ioneze ?n lumea adult?. – Jerold Kreisman, Hal Straus

Bun venit ?n lumea program?rii neurolingvistice (neuro-linguistic programming – NLP)! Cartea de fa?? ??i va prezenta principalele teme ?i idei ce constituie NLP. ??i va oferi cuno?tin?e de ansamblu ?i ?n?elegerea conceptelor?cheie, pe l?ng? exerci?ii practice menite a??i pune mintea la contribu?ie. NLP are propriul sistem de limbaj ?i organizare, explicat pe larg cu exemple din problemele profesionale ?i personale. Teoriile ?i practica NLP te vor ajuta s? descoperi ce ?i face pe unii oameni s? exceleze ?n toate aspectele vie?ii lor, stimul?ndu?te s? faci acela?i lucru.

Un volum incitant de care nu se pot lipsi adolescen?ii, elevii, studen?ii, profesorii, acest indirect dic?ionar de vise ?i destine reprezint? o carte necesar?, c?ci ?ndeamn? la cunoa?tere de sine. Acest studiu-eseu interdisciplinar con?ine valoroase trimiteri la Freud, Nietzsche, Aristotel ?i al?i g?nditori – eventuale modele ?n epoca tranzi?iei sufocat? de acultura?ie ?i de modele de o calitate ?ndoielnic?.

Ce este o traum?? Putem s? o identific?m dup? ce a trecut ?ocul? Care sunt semnele ce ar trebui s? ne alerteze ?n s?pt?m?nile ?i lunile care urmeaz?? Care este impactul asupra memoriei ?i somnului? Ce trebuie ?tiut despre tehnicile care permit dep??irea crizei, ?ncep?nd cu interven?ia imediat? ?i termin?nd cu terapiile de lung? durat??Acela?i eveniment poate fi o traum? pentru un individ, dar nu ?i pentru un altul, ?n func?ie de diferen?ele de personalitate, de nivelul de preg?tire, de energia de care dispune individul pentru a face fa?? traumelor ?i de sprijinul acordat de anturaj ?n acel moment. ?in?nd cont de aceste realit??i, autorul propune un tablou clinic al traumei ?n trei faze (imediat?, postimediat? ?i am?nat?-cronic?) ?i demonstreaz? c? trauma nu poate fi redus? la tulburarea de stres posttraumatic. El trateaz? particularit??ile tabloului clinic ?n cazuri specifice, cum ar fi acela al copilului, al femeii care a fost victima unui viol ?i al salvatorului expus unui eveniment poten?ial traumatizant. ?n ceea ce prive?te domeniul terapeutic, acesta este explorat din perspectiva rezilien?ei, a interven?iei psihologice imediate, postimediate ?i a tratamentului fazei cronice.

The city of Haarlem, Netherlands, has set a huge prize to the person who can grow a black tulip, sparking competition between the country's best gardeners to win the money, honour and fame. Only the city's oldest citizens remember the Tulip Mania thirty years prior, and the citizens throw themselves into the competition. The young and bourgeois Cornelius van Baerle has almost succeeded but is suddenly thrown into the Loevestein prison. There he meets the prison guard's beautiful daughter Rosa, who will be his comfort and help, and eventually become his rescuer.

Tolstoy shares his views about the imprecision of general opinions on art, the time, effort, public funds, and public respect spent on art and artists. The difficulty of meaning in art, and especially what is good, useful art, art for the sake of which we might condone such sacrifices as are being offered at its shrine. So, what is art?