Beyond being a biography, ‘Life That Breaks the Mold’, which offers individuals and society a prescription for leading a successful and happy life, was published by Timaş Publications under the editorship of Dr. Tuğba Şimşek and Emre Şimşek. Editor Emre Şimşek emphasized that Tarhan sincerely opened up every aspect of his life to the reader, stating that they received sincere, beautiful, and courageous answers. Şimşek noted that the lives of individuals who have reached a certain position in life are always highly curious, and added that every question posed to Tarhan was discussed within the family, at their home. Şimşek also added that everyone who reads the book can find many messages and pieces of advice.
Şimşek: “We received sincere, beautiful and courageous answers”…
The book by Dr. Tuğba Şimşek and Emre Şimşek, consisting of river interviews, comprises 9 chapters. Beyond being a biographical work, the book also offers life prescriptions for a successful and happy life. It narrates Prof. Dr. Tarhan’s experiences spanning 70 years, his family, education, university and military years, and his journey leading to the country's first private psychiatric hospital and first thematic university, all presented with an intimate language and photographs.
“People are curious about the lives of personalities who have achieved a certain status in life”
Emre Şimşek, one of the editors of 'Life That Breaks the Mold', a book that details every aspect of the life of Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, a scientist whose paradigm-shifting works are widely followed in Turkey and around the world, spoke about the book's creation process.
Şimşek stated; “Once a week, we were interviewing our esteemed Prof. Nevzat Tarhan within the framework of a program. During these interviews, I also asked questions about his life. Because people are curious about the lives of personalities who have overcome certain things and reached a certain point in life. For example, if our topic that week was coping with difficulties, I wondered what kind of difficulties Nevzat Tarhan faced in his life and ‘How did he overcome these difficulties?’ Not just me, I'm sure the listeners were curious too. These questions began to multiply. One day, we started thinking, ‘Could this be a book?’ I shared this thought with my wife. She also got very excited. Afterwards, we decided to send a message to our esteemed Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. When we received a positive response, we started the interviews.”
“We received sincere, beautiful and courageous answers”
Emre Şimşek stated that listening to the history of Turkey from someone who lived through those periods and was affected by them was quite exciting; “In the river interviews, the most challenging part for us was, of course, transcribing the audio into text. This took us quite a long time. Frankly, the most exciting part was spending a few beautiful days with Nevzat Tarhan. Frankly, being able to see his every moment was very precious. It was very exciting. It was wonderful to share a day. Also, we had some questions from young people. We didn't just share our own questions. We also asked questions to young people. We asked for their ideas on ‘What would you like us to ask Nevzat Tarhan?’ and we received very strange questions.
For example; there were also very reasonable, logical, and interesting questions like ‘Tea or coffee? - Messi or Ronaldo?’ or ‘How do you explain God, Allah, to an atheist?’ We wondered if we could ask these questions or what kind of answers we would get if we did, but we received very heartfelt, sincere, beautiful, and courageous answers. This was also quite exciting. I also find this important: We witnessed recent Turkish history. Listening to it from someone who lived through those periods and was affected by them was also quite exciting.” he said.
“There are pieces of advice for everyone who reads it”
Emre Şimşek stated that 'Life That Breaks the Mold' is a very unique project, slightly different from similar works. Şimşek said; “Before the project started, of course, we had a plan. We would ask questions within the framework of a plan. We would direct these questions, and a book would emerge from these questions, but our esteemed Prof. Nevzat Tarhan was so sincere and heartfelt that with dozens of teas and dozens of coffees entering into this sincerity, our plan frankly expanded a bit. The conversation became quite deep. One thing led to another. It became a bit difficult to turn this conversation into a book. It needs to be said, but we can say that a truly enjoyable project emerged. It contains not only the life and biography of our esteemed Prof. Nevzat Tarhan but also messages that everyone who reads it can take away. There is advice. I also said that it is a book that can be read with pleasure. There are many points where we can smile while reading. There are many points where we can go back in history, to the past. So, I can say that it is a very unique project, a bit different from similar ones.” he expressed.
“Every single question was discussed within the family, in our home…”
Şimşek mentioned that every question asked during the writing phase of the book was discussed and debated within the family; “I am a bit practical. My wife, on the other hand, pays attention to details. She takes pride in her work. From this perspective, I think this work was very valuable in complementing each other. We had done some other works before. Especially some academic works, but we had not been involved together in such a comprehensive project. It was very valuable for us too. Every interview, every question we asked, was discussed and debated within the family, in our home. A comparison was also made with our own lives. Frankly, it was quite valuable from this aspect as well. Especially our comments after listening to our esteemed Prof. Nevzat Tarhan’s family life from him, and the aspects we reflected in our own lives, were quite productive and beautiful. I can say that it was not just a project, but a work that contributed a lot to our lives as well.” he said.
“Nevzat Tarhan sincerely opens up every aspect of his life to us”
Emre Şimşek emphasized the importance of seeing how a professional lives their life; “The book is quite valuable both individually and socially. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, one of the most important psychiatrists in Turkey and even the world, opens his life to us. We hear many pieces of advice from psychologists and psychiatrists. We hear many words. We try to apply them to our lives, but what do they experience in their own lives? What do they experience, what do they feel when they encounter a difficulty, a failure, when they have a question mark in their minds, when they have an inner struggle, did they never make mistakes, did they never err, what did they do in these situations? We don't know this. In this book, Nevzat Tarhan sincerely opens up every aspect of his life to us. I think it is a very important book in terms of seeing how a professional lives their life, sometimes forgiving ourselves, and being able to say, ‘We all have similar things in our lives.’” he said.