It’s sad, isn’t it, that so many people deny the obvious in so many spheres of life. Just as the beginning of knowledge is the acknowledgment that there is much to learn, so the beginning of personal fulfillment is the knowledge that one must improve, can improve, and that there are ways to do what only seems to be impossible, but isn’t. Even sadder is that many people assume that self-mastery and character development are natural by-products of scholarship and observance, that self-improvement will emerge without effort. The Sages of the Talmud knew better. They said, “Who is strong? He who subdues his personal inclination,” for to master one’s passion is better than to conquer a city. And it is harder, as well. They recognized and preached that one must never rest, lest he lose the battle, just as the conqueror of a city must remain ever vigilant. The battle to elevate and ennoble oneself must be ongoing. And the Sages also taught how to win the victory. How? For that one must understand the mystery of the soul, plumb the teachings of the Sages, and heed the counsel of the masters of Chassidus and Mussar, the great artists of personal refinement. A person who incorporates all that plus a thorough knowledge of modern psychiatry and psychology is a rare and priceless human treasure. Such a person is Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., Torah scholar, psychiatrist and ranking expert in the treatment of substance abuse. In this wise and valuable book, he demolishes the fears and shibboleths that bar the way to mental health for countless good and sincere people. He shows that the principles for today’s most successful techniques for self-improvement are found in the Torah, as expounded by its greatest teachers. Warmly, compassionately, engagingly, he draws us into his world of health, happiness and fulfillment. This is a book for everyone. It is enriching and uplifting. Most of all, it will put its readers on the road to personal success.

Problems that require resolution from a Halachic perspective are not infrequent, and there is certainly no dearth of dilemmas that should be addressed from a psychological standpoint. However, many problems involve both - and, although much has been written on psychologic-halachic issues, there has been little, if any, example of practical application. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., an eminent psychiatrist who is well versed in halachah, has broad experience in both realms, and in their combined applications. In this book, he makes available some of his case material demonstrating an integrated approach to these sometimes thorny issues. Dr. Twerski's lucid responses to questions on specific life situations provide guidelines that can be of much broader relevance. Because he is convinced that most life-adjustment difficulties are the result of a distorted self-perception, with consequent low self-esteem, Dr. Twerski has prefaced his responses with several chapters on the vital role of a personal identity - hence the title, I am I. More than a fascinating review of other people's difficulties and their solutions, this is a book filled with insights that will enlighten countless people about themselves and the world around them. It is an invaluable contribution to self-knowledge in the light of Torah and psychology. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., is a descendant of the founders of the Chassidic movement, whose philosophy he embraces and applies in his psychiatric practice. An ordained Rabbi, Dr. Twerski is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pitttsburgh School of Medicine and founder and Medical Director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Twerski's earlier works, Living Each Day, Living Each Week, Growing Each Day, and Smiling Each Day, have established his position as a Torah scholar who possesses psychological insights that enhance application of Torah principles to everyday life.