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The Essential Moreno: Writings on Psychodrama, Group Method and Spontaneity

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J. L. Moreno, M.D., originator of sociometry, psychodrama and group therapy, may be the most overlooked genius of the 20th century. Discovering the preferential basis of social structure, he developed sociometry, a method for exploring the dynamics of society, a method which has been largely ovelooked by sociologists. He developed a three dimensional, action method of communication, psychodrama, which has multiple functions including a powerful form of psychotherapy. Of the 150,000 or more practitioners of some form of therapy or counseling, only a few hundred are certified psychodramatists. Although there are many reasons why Moreno's contributions have been neglected, one of the most important is his oft-criticized style of writing.
Jonathan Fox has done the psychotherapy professions an immense favor by selecting passages from Moreno's prolific and wide ranging works which capture the essence of his philosophy, theory and methods. As Carl Whitaker, noted family therapist states in his foreword, "Jonathan Fox has made an heroic effort to put together writings, philosophy,theories , and accomplishments of J. L. Moreno."
Hopefully this book will spur some of its readers to further explore the contributions of Moreno.

Dr. J.L. Moreno was a genius, a brilliant creator and theorist, an original thinker in the field of understanding human growth and the importance of interpersonal relationship. Jonathan Fox has, quite literally, 'essentialised' Moreno's complex writings, philosophy, theories and methods into bite-sized chunks which give the student and practitioner of psychodrama/sociodrama (and other creative therapies and methods of creative and drama groupwork) a route map into his thinking, which could lead the reader on to the full range of Moreno's work or be enough of a taster to encourage attendance at a psychodrama workshop. When I was a student myself, I found this book utterly essential reading and quoted heavily from it in my student thesis. Now I am a trainer of sociodrama students in the UK, I cannot recommend 'The Essential Moreno' strongly enough to my groups. It is always on my desk and I regularly dip into it to remind myself of the words of Moreno himself, in a form I can readily relate to.