THE GIFT: TRAUMA TO TRIUMPH

Fischler’s memoir details a family tragedy and his struggle to find peace and purpose in the aftermath.

In the years leading up to the author’s marriage to Barbara Weiden Schwartz Fischler, things couldn’t have been better for him. He had made a success of himself in the elite circles of New York City and had begun dating Barbara, who hailed from one of New York’s most venerable old-money families. After a courtship replete with name-dropping and jet-setting, they had an opulent wedding; it was only then that Fischler began to understand the depth of mental illness in his stepsons. Though the couple devoted both money and genuine emotional investment to the issue—they stayed on top of their sons (Barbara’s children from a previous relationship), planned outings, and hired experts—tragedy struck on two fronts: One son, Kenneth, committed suicide, and the other, Jonathan, fatally stabbed Barbara. Fischler details his arduous journey to healing and self-improvement, through which he discovered spirituality and mindfulness and a desire to help others struggling through devastating tragedies (hence this work). While possessing wealth is not a crime, the author’s insistence on its disadvantages (valid or otherwise) will be a roadblock to sympathy for many readers, especially when Fischler describes the litany of expensive possessions and luxe experiences that failed to mitigate his stepchildren’s myriad psychological and addiction issues. No doubt the author has experienced genuine tragedy, which no one deserves, but misfortune is not enough to carry a book. Readers who stick through the early sections will be rewarded with more introspection later on, such as when Fischler describes the curative powers of rediscovering awe, both for the world and for his hard-earned recovery: “Tragedy makes us brutally aware that our existence is a miracle…tragedy devastates, humbles, awakens, and overwhelms us.” Unfortunately, this inward turn comes after a surfeit of socialite braggadocio.

An impressive journey of self-help and growth that nevertheless fails to engage the reader.