Customer Reviews

Our Dreaming Mind

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This book is a compendium of information about dreams, ranging from folklore and ancient beliefs through current scientific research. The book is organized into 6 parts: anecdotes and famous dreams, early dream research from the dawn of history up until Freud, modern dream theorists including Freud and Jung, experimental dream research, scientific dream analysis, and paranormal and lucid dreams. There are also two appendixes that provide contact information for dream networks and organizations, and how to keep a dream diary. The book is extensively documented with endnotes, and there is a 20 page bibliography as well as an index. There is a phenomenal amount of material crammed into this volume- -the pages are extra wide to accommodate two columns of text on each page. The book is illustrated with black-and-white photographs and dream-influenced artwork.

The early part of the book seemed almost like an extended literature review for a dissertation or an encyclopedia. The thoughts of dozens, perhaps even hundreds of philosophers, researchers, and other dreamers are briefly summarized in chronological order, from Plato to Artemidorus, from Erik Erikson to Calvin Hall. I found the sections on Freud and Jung particularly illuminating. As someone who has heard a lot about Freud, but never read his works, I found the overview of Freud's work on dreams and his school of psychoanalysis quite informative, especially when it was directly contrasted with Jung's work. The contributions of each of these men to the topic of dream research were presented in great depth, and supplemented with example analyses in their corresponding schools.

I also found the section of the book covering contemporary dream research to be quite fascinating. It would have been better, however, if this section were expanded and brought up to date with the latest laboratory findings. One annoying habit that Van de Castle has is using this book to defend criticisms of his research methodology. In several places in the text, he reports that other researchers disagreed with his findings, and then he launches into in-depth justification of his conclusions. While he is certainly within his rights to defend his views, it makes no sense to do so in a popular work such as this one- -all he needed to do in this text was mention the disagreements (perhaps in an endnote) and briefly explain that he had answered the questions in print elsewhere. By discussing the points in detail here, it makes it appear as if he is defending his research by appealing not to his scientific peers, but to the general public. In contrast, it might have been good to explain the experimental design of his research in a little more detail in this book. From his descriptions here, he makes it sound as if he does dream research by positing that certain elements of dreams are common or absent in a particular group of people, and then checking their dreams to see if this is indeed the case. He never mentions whether this research is conducted using double-blind methods or control populations. If he had mentioned here that he consistently used such methods, his research would sound a lot more credible. (If he actually didn't use such methods, then his research would be dreamy, indeed.)

In any case, I found much of what Van de Castle reports to be consistent with my own experiences. After reading this book, I am even more certain that following one's nightly dreams can be a very illuminating and worthwhile practice. I plan to use the book's extensive bibliography to follow up on the ideas presented here.

Contrary to the last review, I did not find this book difficult to read or understand. Each topic is organized with subtitles in an easy-to-find manner. A great deal of information is given on the history of dreams, which was the reason I decided to buy the book in the first place; I'm currently doing a report on the history of dreams throughout varied cultures, and this is one of the better resources I've been able to find on it. Not only does the author trace the history of dreams, but he also deals with dream theories in the 20th century, early and contemporary research with dreams, dreams of famous people, how dreams vary throughout the life span, lucid and spiritual dreams, nightmares and night terrors...the list goes on. If you're looking for a good resource on dreams instead of a generic dream interpretation book, this is one to check into.

This book is the author's heartfelt presentation in depth of what humans past and present have thought about dreams from many points of view and not just our modern psychological one.

This is a must reading as the best survey of the field. If it has a weakness it is that the author himself sometimes takes positions on various dream issues which show a certain lack of scientific objectivity, but at least you have all the issues.

Knowning many points of view on how dreams are regarded is important for the dedicated dreamer because so many books about dreams are rather strong in the author's single point of view. When you see the many ways dreams have been used in the history of culture you can be a bit more relaxed aout trying to decide what is the right way to view dreams in general or your own dreams in particular.

Unfortunately where the author is the weakest is in not surveying modern dream approaches of the last fifty years except the laboratory research approach. He excludes by choice any mention of the development of modern dreamwork of many schools of thought except some of the most well known and now old such as the Jungian and Freudian.

So if you want an excellent background on dreams look here in this large book but if you want the latest on the creative new developments in dreamworking you will have to look elsewhere.

Strephon Kaplan-Williams, author, The Dream Cards

VdC gives a pretty good gloss-over history of dreaming and what certain people thought of them; how certain philosophers and psychologists thought of them. He also recounts several studies and the statistics that were drawn from them - which are quite interesting.
One of the studies on lucid dreaming describes the participants methods for inducing lucid dreams, and the method happens to be almost identical to a method I've successfully used before, which I originally got from a book called "Control Your Dreams".

Of all the books I have about dreams Our Dreaming Mind has the most comprehensive research. Unlike other dream books that are use to promote the author point of view; Dr. Van de Castle uses facts and research to promote his claim. ***I believe most people don't remember their dreams, some or all, because they can't handle how far their dreams take them.*** Anyone that can easily remember their dreams and has a bit of a scientific mind will be overjoyed that some scientist is taking dreams seriously. I use this book as the core text for my dream study. Thank you Dr. Van de Castle!!!

I am surprized that I am the first person to review this book. It is an excellent book to learn about the dreams. Dreams are no longer meaningless hallucinations for me that happen when I am confused or feel cold at night. Dr. Van de Castle gives an extensive overview of dreams, with an open mind and heart. He also talks about his first-hand experiences that he had in scientific dream laboratories. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in dreams for personal or professional reasons.

This is a really comprehensive book for anyone who is studying the dreaming process and/or the history of thinking behind the dreaming process. It is well-balanced in that it discusses the physiology and the spirituality of this interesting topic without being too much of either one. Highly recommended for pleasure or academia.

Robert Van De Castle has a sense of vocation for his subject that conveys beautifully. He speaks very plainly and directly, without talking down to the reader. He's as objective as you can be with a subject that's so completely subjective (yet universal.)

The one negative review of Van De castle's book is from a Freudian. There is not "disenchantment" with Freud, he has been largely discredited. Dreams are not intentionally disguised infantile sexual wishes. The 'sub'conscious does not consist entirely of repressed desires. Freud's idea of the ego as basically the entire mind reminds me of the idea of the Earth being the center of the universe. They are just products of a different era.

While sometimes a little simplistic in its prose style and speculative in nature, Our Dreaming Mind is on a much higher plane than the new age junk that largely consumes shelf space devoted to the subject in book stores. Well worth the investment.

As other reviewers have stated, this book reads like a dissertation given all of the works cited. The author has definitely done his research and is comprehensive in covering all aspects of dreaming. The information presented is interesting and fascinating, but the book is not for those who would rather read a novel than a textbook or term paper. I, alas, am one of those people and donated my copy to our Women's Circle library. This book is a valuable resource and is recommended for those who are taking on serious study.

This is a hefty book but packed with a lot of fascinating information. Our Dreaming Mind offers an extensive and deep overview of the history, theories, experimental studies and dimensions of dreaming. Van De Castle writes about how dreams have inspired science, arts, literature and human actions that have transformed our culture throughout history. Van de Castle explains how early historical dreams displayed a connection between inner and outer turmoil and that dreams were given strong support in many ancient cultures. Van de Castle discusses how Non-European cultures never separated waking life from dream life unlike European societies which led to why St. Jerome "deliberately mistranslated the Hebrew word for witchcraft as "observing dreams" in Leviticus 19:26 and Deuteronomy 18:10 that would cement a "link between dreams and forbidden practices" in the western Church until Descartes and the Romantics re-opened the door to dream work in the 17th and 18th centuries. Van De Castle summarizes the dream theories of Freud, Jung and other 20th century dream theorists including the landmark University of Chicago REM sleep study that opened the door for further experimental dream studies. Van De Castle also discusses content analysis and his role in creating the Hall-Van de Castle Scales. Van De Castle also reveals various dimensions of dreaming including: how gender, society, stress and aging effect dreams; typical dreams; how dream work reduces anxiety; somatic imagery in dreams and the corresponding conditions of our physical bodies; paranormal dreams; and lucid dreams and techniques on how to develop more lucidness in dreaming to become more whole and live with less anxiety in our waking lives. My only complaint is the second half of the book reads more like clinical research papers than the ease of the front book material which makes that information frustrating to absorb. Personally, I found hope that ancestral images, faculties and movements are inherent in our neuro cerebral system in the shape of "latent capacities and possibilities" and I love that dreams can "reflect on a person's past and provide hope for the future". I love three quotes the author mentions: "a man is shown in his dreams what he thinks in his heart", "Truth is in sleep" and Jung's quote "my life is a story of the self-realization of the unconscious". I find those statements quite true.

Ms. Jamieson Haverkampf
Author of the award winning resource guide Mom Minus Dad and current Dream Group Leader Training student at the Haden Institute
Mom Minus Dad: The Essential Resource Guide for Busy Adults with a Newly Widowed Parent