Basic Freud: Psychoanalytic Thought for the 21st Century [Hardcover]

Michael Kahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 24, 2001

In Basic Freud, noted psychologist Michael Kahn shows that, even in the age of psychopharmaceuticals and cognitive therapy, Freud's insights into the unconscious remain unsurpassed tools for understanding our behaviors, motivations, and emotions. In a style accessible to any lay reader or beginning student in psychology, Kahn presents key ideas such as the Oedipus complex, the repetition compulsion, guilt, anxiety, and defense mechanisms, along with recent research that has supported or expanded Freud's findings. He also presents case studies from his own work as a psychotherapist to show how Freudian thought has been instrumental in helping patients discover who they are and escape from destructive patterns. Readers aware of Freud's ideas and those discovering them for the first time will benefit from Kahn's fresh, informed, and unpretentious approach.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Clinical psychologist Kahn (emeritus, Univ. of California, Santa Cruz) believes that psychoanalytic theory is sound despite some flaws. Here he aims to introduce Freud to college-level students, therapists-to-be, and general readers, using a conversational style and brief case examples from his practice. Kahn covers all the usual suspects: the unconscious, psychosexual development, the Oedipus complex, the repetition compulsion, anxiety, defense mechanisms, guilt, dreams, grief, and transference. He also introduces the post-Freudian Heinz Kohut and, in doing so, shows himself to be an empathic, humane therapist. Some of the cases seem too pat, and Kahn's defense of the Oedipus complex includes the dubious Freudian claim that those who don't agree with it are too threatened to admit the truth. Still, this is a good book for academic and public libraries that complements Pamela Thurschwell's Sigmund Freud (LJ 11/15/00), which is for literary or general audiences, and Elio Frattaroli's trailblazing Healing the Soul in the Age of the Brain (LJ 8/01). E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A well-written, accessible, and richly anecdotal introduction to Freudian and post-Freudian thinking...." -- Leo Goldberger, Professor of Psychology, New York University --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1st Pbk. Ed edition (December 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465037151
• ISBN-13: 978-0465037155
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #690,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basic Freud, March 7, 2004

By 

Leigh (Lafayette, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Freud: Psychoanalytic Thought for the 21st Century (Paperback)

For an easy to read basic overview of psychoanalytic thought, I highly recommend Michael Kahn's Basic Freud. Basic Freud describes many theories about the unconscious, psychosexual development, the Oedipus complex, the repetition compulsion, anxiety, defense mechanisms, guilt, dreams, grief, and transference. Mr. Kahn uses simple diction so the book is very easy to understand for those of us who aren't psychoanalysts. Mr. Kahn uses case studies from his own practice to help illustrate the aforementioned theories and how they play out in real life.
By delving into the unconscious Freud discovered so many possibilities for why we are the way we are and why we act in certain ways. This book is so enlightening to read and eye opening to the ideas of Sigmund Freud and his theories on the unconscious.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enriching work, October 29, 2002

By 

C.M. (Irving, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Freud: Psychoanalytic Thought for the 21st Century (Hardcover)

Having read "Civilization and Its Discontents" in college but not getting a lot from it, I eagerly read Kahn's well-written and engaging book on Freud. He breaks down many of Freud's theories on sexuality, human development and parental relationships using examples from his own therapy practice, as well as notes from Freud himself. For anyone interested in the human psyche, I highly recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, March 4, 2006

By 

Michael F. McPartlan (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basic Freud: Psychoanalytic Thought for the 21st Century (Hardcover)

Freud is one of those authors (like Hegel or Marx) that has had a profound impact on 20th century (and 21st century) life, but that is basically unreadable. It is better to read a book about Freud that to wade into his works (especially if your interest in psychology does not rise to the level of becoming a psychologist). This book by Michael Kahn excellently explains Freud, his works, and his theories without getting bogged down with technical jargon or textbook-style language. Kahn's succinctness and clarity made reading this book a joy. If you want to read one book only about Freud and his theories, this is it!