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From Sigmund Freud’s experiments with cocaine to William James’s epiphany on nitrous oxide, Mike Jay brilliantly recovers a lost intellectual tradition of drug-taking that fed the birth of psychology, the discovery of the unconscious, and the emergence of modernism.
- Overview
- Studies on Hysteria (1895)
- The Interpretation of Dreams (1900)
- The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901)
- Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905)
- Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious (1905)
- Totem and Taboo (1913)
- On Narcissism ( 1914)
- Introduction to Psychoanalysis (1917)
- Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920)
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Sigmund Freud is one of the most famous figures of the twentieth century. His often controversial ideas had a major impact on the growing field of psychology, and his influence continues to be felt today. In addition to his overarching theories of human psychology, he was also a prolific writer, publishing more than 320 different books, articles, and essays.
The following list represents a selection of the most famous and influential Sigmund Freud books. If you are interested in learning more about Freud and his theories, consider reading a few of his original writings to get a better grasp of Freudian theory directly from the original source.
There are many textbooks that summarize his ideas, but sometimes nothing beats consulting the original writings to gain greater insights and perspectives on his many ideas.
"Studies on Hysteria," or Studien über Hysterie, was co-authored by Freud and his colleague Josef Breuer. The book described their work and study of a number of individuals suffering from hysteria, including one of their most famous cases, a young woman known as Anna O.
"Studies on Hysteria" is one of the most significant Sigmund Freud books because it introduced the use of psychoanalysis as a treatment for mental illness.
"The Interpretation of Dreams" was originally published in German under the title Die Traumdeutung. Freud often identified this book as his personal favorite, and it has gone on to become a perennial classic in the history of psychology.
The book lays out Freud's theory that dreams represent unconscious wishes disguised by symbolism. This book is a must-read if you want to learn more about Freud's approach to dreams and the unconscious mind.
"The Psychopathology of Everyday Life," or Zur Psychopathologie des Alltagslebens, is considered one of the major texts that outline Freud's psychoanalytic theory.
The book takes a closer look at many deviations that occur during everyday life, including forgetting names, slips of the tongue (aka Freudian slips), and errors in speech and concealed memories. He then analyzes the underlying psychopathology that he believed led to such errors.
"Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality," or Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie, is considered one of Freud's most important works. In these essays, he outlines his theory of psychosexual development and introduces other concepts including the Oedipus complex, penis envy, and castration anxiety.
While modern ideas of human sexuality have evolved beyond Freud's theories, reading this Sigmund Freud book can be a great way to learn more about early psychoanalytic thought and better grasp how attitudes about sexuality have changed in the subsequent years.
In "Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious," or Der Witz und seine Beziehung zum Unbewußten, Freud observed how jokes, much like dreams, could be related to unconscious wishes, desires, or memories.
Freud's theory of humor is based on his theory of the id, ego, and superego. According to Freud, the superego allows the ego to generate and express humor.
Freud also suggested that cultivating a sense of humor could play a role in unlocking repressions. However, he also felt that certain types of humor, including self-directed irony and sarcasm, could be potentially harmful.
This book can be an excellent primer on understanding how aspects of Freudian theory can be applied to psychoanalytic thought.
Recap
"Totem and Taboo" takes an interdisciplinary look at psychoanalysis. It can be a helpful read if you want to learn more about the influence of Freudian theories on other disciplines.
In On Narcissism, or Zur Einführung des Narzißmus, Freud outlines his theory of narcissism. In the book, he suggests that narcissism is actually a normal part of the human psyche. He referred to this as primary narcissism or the energy that lies behind each person's survival instincts.
"On Narcissism" marks a significant shift in Freud's ideas, focusing more on libidinal energy directed toward the self rather than toward objects. It also marks an exploration in to the origins of narcissism as a personality disorder.
As one of Freud's most famous books, "Introduction to Psychoanalysis" (or Vorlesungen zur Einführung in die Psychoanalyse), Freud outlines his theory of psychoanalysis including the unconscious mind, the idea of neuroses, and dreams.
The preface, written by G. Stanley Hall, explains, "These twenty-eight lectures to laymen are elementary and almost conversational. Freud sets forth with a frankness almost startling the difficulties and limitations of psychoanalysis, and also describes its main methods and results as only a master and originator of a new school of thought can do."
In "Beyond the Pleasure Principle," originally published in German as Jenseits des Lustprinzips, Freud explored his theory of instincts in greater depth. Previously, Freud's work identified the libido as the force behind human actions. In this book, he developed a theory of drives motivated by life and death instincts.
In addition to presenting his ideas on life and death instincts, "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" introduced Freud's concept of repetition compulsion. This phenomenon involves people unconsciously repeating traumatic experiences, behaviors, and relationships.
- The Interpretation of Dreams Sigmund Freud.
- Civilization and Its Discontents Sigmund Freud.
- The Ego and the Id Sigmund Freud, Peter Gay, James Strachey (Editor)
- Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud.
Conversations With Freud (eBook) SKU: 9781786784230. Imagined by one of the world’s leading experts on Freud, this fictionalized conversation presents the essential biography of the father of psychoanalysis.
The Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud Vol.2. Discover other books like this, author exclusives, and more!
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One hundred years ago Sigmund Freud published The Interpretations of Dreams, a book that, like Darwin's The Origin of Species, revolutionized our understanding of human nature.
- Sigmund Freud
