Book excerpt: Psychiatrist Ludwig weaves insights from in-depth interviews with 21 biographers with observations from his own practice to investigate the mechanisms by which people construct identities. He describes how biographers must impose a narrative structure on the mass of often contradictory information in much the same way therapists try to foster understanding and awareness in their patients. He concludes by asserting that people can use the same methods to find meaning in their lives. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR