Summary

In Chapter 1, "Idiots," Lori Gottlieb, who is the author of the book as well as the central protagonist, is seeing a new patient, John. Lori is a psychotherapist based in Los Angeles. This is her second session with John. John is an egomaniac television writer who seems to hate everyone, calling them "idiots," and is lying to his wife about being in therapy. He is an especially difficult patient to work with. Lori struggles during their session, reminding herself to "have compassion," a mantra that she tells herself when working with difficult patients. Despite her struggling, she genuinely wants to help John. She sees how he deliberately distances himself from her and how he is someone who has trouble connecting to the people in his life. She fights a yawn as she he recounts an argument he had with his wife, Margo. He...