Freud and Psychoanalysis: Six Introductory Lectures

John Forrester's six introductory lectures at the University of Cambridge provide a comprehensive exploration of Freud's thinking, biography, and the development of psychoanalysis. He explores the scientific context, radical subject matter, and the growth of the psychoanalytic movement, highlighting its cultural and revolutionary impact. The book offers a concise and accessible entry into a field that shaped the twentieth century, inviting curious readers to engage with Freud's ideas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2023
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

John Forrester's renowned and in-depth exploration of Freud and psychoanalysis is truly legendary. Presented here in six introductory lectures delivered to his students at the University of Cambridge, Forrester's exceptional range and clarity bring forth the evolution of Freud's thinking and the profound nature of his discoveries in remarkable clarity. Drawing upon his expertise as an historian, Forrester delves into Freud's biography, the scientific context of his time, the radical subject matter that the field encompasses, including sex, dreams, desire, the unconscious, childhood, and language. He also explores Freud's development of a new clinical practice, highlighting the growth of the psychoanalytic movement and the intriguing question of what kind of beast it might evolve into as it traverses different times and geographical regions.

In addition to examining these aspects, Forrester sheds light on the cultural and revolutionary impact of psychoanalytic thinking, not only in Freud's work but also in the contributions of his progeny in various regions where the movement flourished. From Vienna to London, Paris to New York, Hollywood to the lab, the couch, the campus, film, and literature, Freud and Psychoanalysis takes us on a captivating journey through time and space. This slender volume, despite its compact size, packs a powerful punch, inviting all curious readers to delve into a field and a way of thinking that profoundly shaped the twentieth century.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509558124