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Listen, Little Man! (Noonday)

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Wilhem Reich was an influential psychoanalyst and thinker whose work has greatly influnced many practitioners and theoreticians of psychotherapy, psychology and psychoanalysis. He was a member of Freud's circle but like many before and after him broke free from his influence later on. His analysis on fascism can be considered as seminal and has influenced amongst others Theodore Adorno in his work for the Princeton institute. His insights into how the human body is inseparable from the human human psychic have also had a great influence on therapeutic practise. He postulated that the various phobias, neurosis and mood disorders have a direct effect on ones body both on the physiological level (internally in the organism) and on the overall posture and facial expressions, and saw Freud's attempts at bringing about change with the sole use of language ('the talking cure') as, to say the least, problematic and insufficient. He, on the other hand, believed that one can go the other way round and make changes at the overall posture which will in turn help resolve the inner psychic conflicts, thus bringing in a whole new perspective to therapy. The several years he spend in the U.S. where primarily conserned with 'orgone energy', a term that he coined for the everlasting, unchangeable energy that permeates the universe and is the source of healing, something like Freud's libido but in more broader cosmic terms, or Bergson's elan vitale.

Falling victim of the U.S. goverments witch-hunt at that period, the vile fanaticism and hatred that they intilled in people against his research, and the smearing campains that went on against him personaly, he was finaly incarcerated, his institute broken apart, his research papers and other documents confiscated and burned. He finally died in prison in 1957, a horrible, undeserved end for such a human being.

This book was written in hot blood in 1947, 10 years that is before his demise, and it is a pamphlet, a critique, a rant, a vibrant piece of history in the making. It was not meant to be published but later on was in fact published as Reich's defence for the atrocieties commited against him. Reich here focusses on the individual, the little man of the title, who is lead to believe this and that by the powers that be, and never who assumes his responsibilities for his own life and freedom. It is a powerfull text in every possible sense. Reich rallies against the "sentimental plague", the propaganda of his time, and makes a call to arms to anyone who is willing to listen, to stop being the little man, or a big little man of fame and fortune, and to become what he is meant to be, an aware, responsible, lively individual. It is an inspiring short piece more poetical than philosophical, more political than psychological. I would recommend it a primer to E. Fromm's escape from freedom and to any existential writing for that matter.

Reich in the end is optimistic. Unlike Giacomo Leopardi whose thought abounds as an influence to this book (although i doubt that Reich ever read Leopardi), Reich believes that in the centuries to come men and women will finaly assume this responsibilities and rise above the "mass" the "common man" in a more free, egalitarian, honest future.

Read it for yourself, be inspired, and what is more...act on it.

The name of "Wilhelm Reich" is not widely known today. Of those who have heard of him, most know of him from second and third hand accounts that label him a quack. "Listen Little Man" stands apart from most of his works in that it is not, specifically, about his theories. Rather it is about his observations of the world and the people who make live in it.

Much had been said about Reich's tendencies to be opinionated, excitable and at times tactless. A sense of this comes across in "Listen Lettle Man." The writing style is not (and is not intended to be) soft-handed. This does NOT, however, invalidate his message.

The book speaks to the everyday person, the one who works for a paycheck, comes home and watches the news, helps the kids with their homework and goes to bed day after day as if on automatic, simply because it is what he/she "should" do. In this book, Reich suggests, demands and at times implores the everyday person to ask "why." Why do you give up your dreams for a life of miserable "security?" Why do you look to political ideologies to set you "free?" Why do you find relief in others' pain when you watch or listen to the "news?" If you have never asked yourself these questions, you need to read this book!

Note that although Reich's voice in this book tends to be harsh he does not speak out of contempt or disgust. He emphasizes that being happy is the right of everyone, but you can never achieve happiness if your life is run on automatic. Note also that he makes frequent reference to "contemporary" issues like the first world war and the Russian revolution. Don't let that fool you into thinking that his messgae is dated. If anything, in this age of sound bites, fads and disposable pop-psychology, his message is more relevent than ever.

Thank you for reading my review

The story of Wilhelm Reich is one of the most frightening and shocking episodes in American history. An innovative scientist and psychoanalyst, Dr. Reich upset many with his unorthodox views on sex, physics, and other branches of knowledge. He was ultimately convicted in a United States court; his writings were burned by government authorities (!), and Reich died in prison in 1957. "Listen, Little Man!" is Reich's very personal defense of his own life and work; the book also represents his bold diagnosis of the disorder which he felt pervaded the human world.

"Listen, Little Man!" is a powerful, but problematic piece of literature. Reich seems to have a Messiah complex, and the book often sounds like a rambling, preachy rant. Despite this often strident tone, however, "Listen, Little Man!" is rich in insights into the human condition. And Reich's compassion for humanity shines through.

In the book, Reich reflects upon many topics: his own discovery of "orgone" energy, the persecution of Galileo, the rise of the Nazis in Germany, the racial discrimination directed against African-American singer Marian Anderson, and more. Ultimately, he expresses hope that he will be vindicated by history.

Those interested in Reich's own testament should also read Robert Anton Wilson's brilliant play "Wilhelm Reich in Hell," a work which is very sympathetic to the embattled scientist. But first read "Listen, Little Man!"; we, as a human race, cannot afford to forget Reich's tragic story.

Wilhelm Reich was far ahead of his time. Like seemingly all visionaries, he was completely at odds with mainstream thought. By the time he wrote this book, he had been completely discredited, humiliated, and even imprisoned! Despite his ruin, he still had hope for mankind, as evident by the tone of this book. Inspirational, entertaining, and most of all, empowering.

I first read this book, as I recall, in the mid 60's. I'm now on my third copy; the previous copies were worn out from handling!"Listen Little Man" is a must read for thinking people who care about humanity, particularly in today's geo/political climate. The information is as relevant today (perhaps even more so!)as it was when first written. We just need to consider it, apply it to our own lives and spread the message--we must trust ourselves to be able to take care of ourselves rather than rely on any exernal force, particularly our leaders and governments.

You will love this little book, or hate it, but I don't see how anyone could read it and not be moved by the impassioned plea that we all assume responsibility for our lives and that we instill this responsibility for future generations. It was my first great inspiration to start thinking for myself (and this was after all the classroom teachings, college included)! I'm still inspired by it.

The best book i have ever read.. I have never again seen such a genius book descibing man so small .. making him seem more and more faint in his eyes. And trying to help him become , from a little man , a big man . ... Read it... If you understand the 10 % of it , you will be truly happy .

The story of Wilhelm Reich is sad. He led a life of scientific inquiry that included very radical views on sexuality and life, and, in the end, was arrested for it. Reich always seemed to believe that he would be crucified, and, for all intents and purposes, he was. I don't mean to make him out to be the messiah he seems to half believe himself to be because Reich never learned to live peacefully in a world that wasn't ready to hear him. In my opinion, he let his (justified) fury interfere with his ability to change the world more than he ended up doing.

That being said, Listen, Little Man!, which is the only work I've read of Reich's, reveals enough about his insight into the human condition to make it obvious that this was a very brilliant man. I don't know if his orgone research is legitimate or if it is the ravings of a lunatic, but, to my knowledge, no one has done enough research of their own to really determine the answer to that question. That is our issue: Reich's insights scare us so much by their sheer truth, that we refuse to even listen to anything else he might have to say. This is precisely the plight of the little man that this book is about. The way we all consistently choose to lead lives of unhappiness and unfulfillment out of fear, and then kill those who would lead us to that happiness out of the same fear. When I began to really think about these ideas, it became impossible for me to disagree with Reich. The ONLY reason any of us are any less fulfilled than we could be is because we CHOOSE to be because we are afraid to have what we really want. Not because of any unchangeable circumstances. This is a very difficult idea to wrap your mind around, but I think it is essential to attaining happiness.

I know that Reich isn't normally associated with these authors, but you will find similar ideas in Neale Donald Walsh's Conversations With God and any of the Ayn Rand where her self-righteousness hasn't overtaken her ability to be rational, and I would reccomend them too.

Listen, Little Man! is exactly the kind of book anyone searching for fulfillment should read. It'll take you probably 2-3 hours at most. Give it a chance. If you don't get it at first, put it down for a few weeks or months, but let the ideas sit, evaluate them for yourself, and see if they make sense for you. But for a book that was never intended for publication, this is a remarkably impressive work from an impressive man.

Although it's been awhile, I love this book. I am looking for another copy, as the one I read was borrowed. Yes, many negative comments are true in that Reich does lambast an imaginary little man and it seems like an endless relentless diatribe.. However he does not do this for fun and recreation or because he is full of hate for peoplekind. I think this is a genuine recognition of his own ability to be an automated human. No one can engage in such an intimate critique without having "been there" himself. It really is a call to liberation of self, not in the tradition of spiritual monasticism and such, but rather the liberation of "Prisons We Choose to Live In" quoting Doris Lessing's book title, for the average person.

The cartoons are great, especially the one with the broken ball and chain and angst-ridden prisoner, who is finally free. Reich gets to the point, without writing some long winded academic treatise. Brief and unapologetic.

This short, potent, megalomaniacal rant is probably the best introduction to the thinking of Freud's most brilliant and mercurial disciple.

At 120 pages, copiously and vividly illustrated by William Steig, it can be read in a brief sitting.

Though it was written after Reich's fateful turn down the dead-end hall of orgone research, it contains the most important insights of his earlier psychotherapeutic work, and is a compelling critique of the mass-psychology of life under mature capitalism.

Those whose interest is piqued by this salvo would do well to investigate Reich's more measured and focused contributions such as his early writings in "Character Analysis" and "Sex-Pol".

Basically, its Wilhelm Reich's harangue against the narrow-minded hypocrisy of a "society" that extols the virtues of freedom but forever enslaves itself to this or that cause, leader, political party etc...anything or anyone that provides a program that dispenses with the need to think for oneself. From the teachings of all the great men of the world, we've taken only the worst, and turned our potential liberators into dictators, wherever we haven't found them so dangerous to the status quo that we had to stone, burn, incarcerate, or crucify them.

Sometimes self-pitying, sometimes self-aggrandizing, Reich seethes with righteous indignation on virtually every page of "Listen, Little Man!" He speaks to us in the oracular tone of Nietzsche's Zarathustra, although not nearly so poetically or so philosophically. But the presentation of his ideas isnt Reich's intention here; his intention is to show how sadly pointless it is for any true thinker to attempt to do so in the first place. Reich clearly sees himself as one of the martyred heroes of humanity, bringing light into a dark world whose blind and ignorant half-brutes tear him to pieces for his sacrifice. He was a Prometheus who was punished not by the gods whose secret he delivered to man, but by the very men to whom he gave the secret!

Reich's enemies--and even many of his friends--claimed he was a raving paranoid. But what does that really mean when you're hounded out of your profession by your colleagues, imprisoned by the government, and see your books and papers banned and burned by the authorities of what was then--and now--presumably the freest, most democratic nation on earth...in all of history? Reich died in prison, having been incarcerated on what were, in effect, legal technicalities. His reputation was systematically ruined. His ideas derided rather than scientifically disproven. He was, as he foresaw in this book, a martyr to freedom.

More an indictment of humanity's smallness, meanness, and mental illness than an explication of his work, "Listen, Little Man!" would be all-too-pointedly right even if everything else Reich ever wrote were dead wrong. Why is the world basically the same miserable, unjust, hung-up, violent place it's always been, why are people just as base, mean, vindictive, stupid, and dangerous as ever, why have all the Buddhas, Christs, Platos, Krishnamurtis, Freuds, Einsteins, and Mohammeds failed to raise the spiritual IQ of humanity even one point beyond what it was in the days of the Neanderthal? Reich tells us, loud and clear. "Listen, little man!" he says. But you don't even have to walk out your front door to see that no one is listening. The vast majority is as deaf as ever. You'd do better to save your breath as to tell anyone anything worth saying. You'll live longer that way.