Different Existence: Principles of Phenomenological Psychopathology [Paperback]

J. H. van den Berg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J H Van Den Berg

Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: Duquesne Univ Pr (June 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0820702447
• ISBN-13: 978-0820702445
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #859,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A neat little book, December 24, 2000

By 

whomi (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Different Existence: Principles of Phenomenological Psychopathology (Paperback)

For those looking for an accurate and concrete introduction to phenomenological psychopathology, this book is probably the best way to go. Van den Berg is a pretty good phenomenologist, and has a very down-to-earth yet evokative descriptive style that, while sometimes frustratingly vague, can also be quite revealing. Unfortunately, Van den Berg spends a bit too much of his time talking about patients' relationships with the physical world and almost no time speaking of the structure of their interpersonal relationships, making his interpretations sometimes seem strangely decontextualized and a bit off the mark. Still, this is a neat little book that can can be quite helpful when one is trying to get an intuitive and nontechnical grasp of phenomenological psychopathology.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple in its own Profound Way, April 13, 2006

By 

R. Kemp (London, UK.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Different Existence: Principles of Phenomenological Psychopathology (Paperback)

This is one of the most under-rated phenomenology books available. On first read it appears simplistic, but this is both its charm and power. Phenomenology is not complex - it is very simple. It is seeing (or hearing etc) what is there - before any interpretation. And this is perhaps the difficult part - engaging with things without intepreting them.

This book must be re-read and then it can be mindblowing. And many of todays 'stars' - like Hillman and Sardello owe van den Berg a large debt. Also try his other books, particularly 'Changing Nature of Man' and 'Divided Existence and Complex Society'.