"Invaluble to the novice approaching Freud's works for the first time....As an evaluation of Freud's theory,
Storr's book is concise and up-to-date....An important addition to any library collection."
--Choice
"Storr's brief, elegant, and interesting book coolly surveys what we might term the house of Freud and finds
almost everything flawed...yet he does not dispute that the builder of the shaky house was a genius."
--D.M. Thomas, The Observer
"A model exercise in synthesis."
--The Independent
"A good, clean, brief introduction to Freud."
--D. Fineman, Occidental College
Oxford University Press Web Site, July, 2002
Summary
Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, developed a totally new way of looking at human nature. Only now,
with the hindsight of the half-century since his death, can we assess his true legacy to current thought. As an
experienced psychiatrist himself, Anthony Storr offers a lucid and objective look at Freud's major theories, evaluating
whether they have stood the test of time, and in the process examines Freud himself in light of his own ideas.
An excellent introduction to Freud's work, this book will appeal to all those broadly curious about psychoanalysis,
psychology, and sociology.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
2. Life and character
3. Exploring the past
4. Free association, dreams, and transference
5. Ego, super-ego, and id
6. Aggression, depression, and paranoia
7. Jokes and The Psycho-Pathology of Everyday Life
8. Art and literature
9. Culture and religion
10. Freud as therapist
11. Psycho-analysis today
12. The appeal of psycho-analysis
