A woman of influence

A narrow escape from Nazi Germany after her parents’ death, then stints as a sniper in Jerusalem, a psychologist in Paris and a sex therapist in New York. By the time Ruth Westheimer achieved radio and television stardom in the 1980s she’d already lived a lifetime. Westheimer’s matronly manner and Euro-Jewish accent (dispensing disarmingly frank sex advice) quickly caught the public’s fancy. Becoming Dr. Ruth is a compact, efficient one-woman show that radiates a resourceful determination to survive, thrive and enjoy life.