Churchill's Black Dog and Other Phenomena of the Human Mind [Paperback]

Anthony Storr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 1997

'Extremely engaging! A book full of good moments and humane insights.' Alan Ryan, Observer This book collects the essays of one of England's best-known and most distinguished psychiatrists. Its theme is creativity. What internal dynamic forces artists, scientists and politicians to devote so much time and energy to creative invention? Anthony Storr weighs and tests Freud's theory that creativity is the result of dissatisfaction by examining the impulses which drove such figures as Churchill, Kafka and Newton. Whether he is exploring the 'divine discontent' that motivates creativity, analysing Jung's mid-life crisis, assessing the psychology of jealousy in Othello or denouncing the abuses of psychiatry, Storr brings wisdom, erudition and compassion to all his subjects in this highly readable and human collection, which is accessible to those who know nothing about psychoanalysis as well as to those who know a great deal.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

'Hughly readable and thoughful' - Anthony Clare, Sunday Times

About the Author

The editor, Anthony Storr, is a doctor, psychiatrist and analyst (trained in the school of C.G.) and author of 'Jung' (a Fontana Modern Master,1973) amongst many others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Fontana Harpercollins (April 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0006375669
• ISBN-13: 978-0006375661
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Psychiatrist's View of Prominent Individuals, June 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Churchill's Black Dog and Other Phenomena of the Human Mind (Paperback)

The late Anthony Storr was British. As you read this insightful book, it is good to keep this in mind. He had a neighbor's perspective of Winston Churchill and (although centuries separate their lives) of Isaac Newton. These essays were the most valuable of the entire book. These men were two of the most influential men that the world has ever produced. With the knowledge of their exquisite gifts, emotionally both of these men had to conduct their lives. Churchill's 'black dog' makes us wonder if today he would have been able to hold a powerful public office, with society's fear of mental illness. Storr documents much of Churchill's emotional life and discusses Newton's also, which is very valuable to the reader. This book was written by one of the most prominent psychiatrists of the 20th Century, who in the same vein as the neurologist Oliver Sacks, fortunately decided to expand his career by publishing books.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine piece of historical writing, July 10, 2000

By 

Kevin Brianton (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Churchill's Black Dog and Other Phenomena of the Human Mind (Paperback)

Psycho-history using pschoanalysis as a historical tool often apears on shaky ground. Yet Storr's work is a first rate piece of writing based on scholarly analysis and adds immeasurably to our understanding of churchill and the forces thar drove him on and on. The first essay is the finest but all the others have a solid quality to them. Yet the Churchill essay is the finest. By realising the immense personal challenges he faced, it adds to his reputation. The internal obstacles were often more than the external ones. A fine book that rewards continual rereading.