Suddenly confronted with his own mortality after a routine checkup, eminent psyc
hotherapist Julius Hertzfeld is forced to reexamine his life and work -- and see
ks out Philip Slate, a sex addict whom he failed to help some twenty years earli
er. Yet Philip claims to be cured -- miraculously transformed by the pessimistic
teachings of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer -- and is, himself, a philo
sophical counselor in training. Philips dour, misanthropic stance compels Julius
to invite Philip to join his intensive therapy group in exchange for tutoring o
n Schopenhauer. But with mere months left, life may be far too short to help Phi
lip or to compete with him for the hearts and minds of the group members. And th
en again, it might be just long enough.
