While the modern world is rapidly making us into "global citizens, " we experience increasing isolation as individuals in our own society There is a pressing need for us to develop new forms of relationship with family and society. Through working consciously on our own life-story, we can build bridges to other people and develop a new understanding for the lives of others.

The ideas and methods presented here are the result of the author's many years of therapeutic work with groups and individuals, dealing with personal and professional crises. The life stories described are the authentic stories of participants in the courses and workshops. The first part of the book outlines the principles of development underlying a person's life. The second part discusses the methodology of the author's programs and presents a number of ways in which individuals can work on their own life-stories.

An individual's life-story, or biography, can be explored to great effect by counsellors and therapists. Gudrun Burkhard, an experienced anthroposophical physician, has studied human biography for many years and counselled many individuals. This book presents her unique methodology and her insights into successful biographical counselling. She describes the steps that practitioners should follow, which are based around seven-year cycles in an individual's life. She pays particular attention to the period of the twenties and early thirties. The book includes an analysis of Charlie Chaplin's biography that reveals fascinating insights about the man.