This essay recounts the author’s experience of a four-times-a-year study group in the history of psychoanalysis with Joe Lichtenberg. The group met the last eight years of Joe’s life. Aside from noting the readings of the group, Clifford sees a central theme in Joe’s work: The expansion of classical psychoanalysis beyond its rigid model, reorienting it away from pathology, and so humanizing it and making it experience-near. A core part of the group was enjoying Joe as a raconteur of the first order – he recounted stories about himself and other people. These personal, behind-the-scenes stories enlivened the history of psychoanalysis for the group, since Joe’s professional life overlapped with a great deal of the modern development of psychoanalysis. Finally, Joe’s ease in living, exemplified by Joe taking the group sailing in Chesapeake Bay, is appreciated.