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The Story of Psychology Paperback – December 18, 2007
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Tracing the history of psychology from its earliest beginnings as a branch of philosophy to modern - day trends, Hunt ( The Compassionate Beast , LJ 3/1/90) covers a vast amount of ground. He not only describes the historic Greek philosophers but takes the reader through Sigmund Freud, William James, B.F. Skinner, and a host of lesser - known psychologists throughout history. The scope ranges from the 1800s, when psychology broke from philosophy to become a field of its own, to the present. Separate schools of thought are clearly traced in an interesting, readable, but scholarly fashion. The material is appropriate for readers with more than a passing curiosity about the subject. More than 80 pages of footnotes testify to the author's exhaustive research. For academic and large public libraries.
- Marguerite Mroz, Baltimore Cty.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
- Marguerite Mroz, Baltimore Cty.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
“A magnificent traversal of an infinitely fascinating landscape by one of the great science writers of our time.”—Chicago Tribune
“The definitive guide to those wishing to grasp man’s search to understand the mind.”—The Chattanooga News-Free Press
“Masterful. . . . A story of psychology that is deep, wide, and, by turns, flowing, curious, familiar, surprising, intriguing.”—Contemporary Psychology
“A tour de force of popular exposition.”—Publishers Weekly
“The definitive guide to those wishing to grasp man’s search to understand the mind.”—The Chattanooga News-Free Press
“Masterful. . . . A story of psychology that is deep, wide, and, by turns, flowing, curious, familiar, surprising, intriguing.”—Contemporary Psychology
“A tour de force of popular exposition.”—Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By
B. West Ph.D.
on July 28, 2001
Format: Paperback
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I teach psychology and one of the areas I emphasize is bringing people "alive" from the history of psych. This book does it! I now have even more background info. The students remember the theorist if they can attach him/her to events and historical data. They can also can see the theorist in relationship to their "life and times", the "Zeitgeist", and how that interacts with theory. An excellent reference book for those of us who teach, and a wonderful resource for good lecture naterial!
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on March 21, 2000
Format: Paperback
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As a high school student in the International Baccalaureate Program, I took a psychology course. After a situation out of my hands resulted in our teacher's leaving us for five months, I went to the library looking for psych books. I found this one and checked it out. The next week, I purchased the same book. Hunt discusses in great detail the historical conditions leading to the prevalance of Freud, then of Watson and Skinner, then of Rogers, and discusses modern cognitivism, social psychology, and neurobiology. He draws on hundreds of published and reputed studies, particularly in his chapters on more recent advances in the field of psychology, which are of course referenced. I am using a study which I learned of from his book for my Internal Assessment in this class, which now has the original teacher (for better or for worse). Had I outlined our syllabus, I would have used this book, as it has been my source for all of the information I have amassed to study for my IB test in May. Anyone with even a passing interest in psychology should purchase Hunt's work, which will not only pique their interest, it will become the foundation upon which so much more can be added.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By
Michael S.
on June 27, 2011
Format: Kindle Edition
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Although a nice overview of the history of psychology, Morton Hunt's Story of Psychology isn't objective or serious enough to be considered a seminal work in the social science. To his credit, however, he does attempt to take an increasingly drab subject matter and bring it into the context of modern humanistic literature. As a result, what you end up with is a tweener book: not serious (or accurate) enough for the psychological crowd, but too scientific for the average reader. This book is mainly for first year psychology students and/or psychology-curious independent readers.
There are two main criticisms of this book (which seem to be present in most reviews): 1.) This 800+ page volume is overwrought with physical descriptions of the philosophers and scientists - something that is completely unnecessary and takes a great deal away from the focus of the tome; 2.) Hunt is extremely critical of philosophers (especially the early philosophers) and shows a great deal of bias and disdain for any line of thinking that isn't up to par with his ideas of truly objective science (whether his ideas are correct or not). It is because of these two main criticisms that the value of this book gets knocked down a notch.
As an example of critique number two above, concluding his review of Hume's work, Hunt makes the statement: "Ironically, the empiricism and associationism that Hume meant to be the foundation of his system of morals live on; his system of morals, a gentle utilitarianism, is quite forgotten."
Hunt is wrong.
David Hume's ethical theory - commonly known as the "passions" - is a form of virtue ethics, not utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is often noted as "the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people." This deals with consequence.Read more ›
There are two main criticisms of this book (which seem to be present in most reviews): 1.) This 800+ page volume is overwrought with physical descriptions of the philosophers and scientists - something that is completely unnecessary and takes a great deal away from the focus of the tome; 2.) Hunt is extremely critical of philosophers (especially the early philosophers) and shows a great deal of bias and disdain for any line of thinking that isn't up to par with his ideas of truly objective science (whether his ideas are correct or not). It is because of these two main criticisms that the value of this book gets knocked down a notch.
As an example of critique number two above, concluding his review of Hume's work, Hunt makes the statement: "Ironically, the empiricism and associationism that Hume meant to be the foundation of his system of morals live on; his system of morals, a gentle utilitarianism, is quite forgotten."
Hunt is wrong.
David Hume's ethical theory - commonly known as the "passions" - is a form of virtue ethics, not utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is often noted as "the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people." This deals with consequence.Read more ›
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on September 22, 1997
Format: Paperback
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As a historical work, this is the most readable, entertaining, and interesting book I can recall. Hunt includes lively, animating biographies of each historical figure, giving them a personality beyond the ordinary dry treatments of these great people.
Besides making for entertaining reading, The Story of Psychology is easily more informative than any book on the subject that I have seen. The reader can choose any section of the book, divided neatly by fundamental psychological camps (the Behaviorists, the Personality Psychologists, etc.) and become aptly informed on the focus of that group, its leaders, and its place in the history of Psychology.
This book is highly recommended.
Besides making for entertaining reading, The Story of Psychology is easily more informative than any book on the subject that I have seen. The reader can choose any section of the book, divided neatly by fundamental psychological camps (the Behaviorists, the Personality Psychologists, etc.) and become aptly informed on the focus of that group, its leaders, and its place in the history of Psychology.
This book is highly recommended.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By
S. Stefaniuk
on January 30, 2003
Format: Paperback
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I first read this book during the 7th grade and once again just recently as an adult(I'm 21 right now). For the most part, this book seems well written, but I realized upon reading it for the second time that the book doesn't mention Friedrich Nietzsche at all. He played an important role in influencing psychology, especially the theories of Sigmund Freud. I found it unbelievable that nothing was mentioned of Nietzsche. Apart from this flaw, however, the book still proved to be an interesting, informative read. Recommended.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By
David Wolfe
on April 8, 2006
Format: Paperback
1 Comment
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This book is a very well organized and presented history of the development of psychology and survey of current research and clinical applications in psychology. The writing style is accessible and fluid, and the details provided create a colorful and humanistic aspect to the historical figures portrayed.
I partially agree with other reviewers/critics of this book that many important contributors to the field were left out or marginalized, but I think the book is close to the limit of what can be contained in a single, readable volume, so something had to be left out. It is, after all, the author's and editor's prerogative to choose who and what to emphasize.
Other's have criticized the author's tendency to give us his opinion on just what work of a contributor was important to the development of psychology and what was not. I actually found this refreshing, since so many text books are so carefully neutral, or so fawning, that they skip the very interesting fact that a lot of these polymath geniuses were also crackpots (think of Leibniz and monads). A point of view which helps us to maintain a healthy skepticism about their ideas.
My main criticism of the book (and the reason why it only gets 4 out of 5) is the extreme western slant. To read this book you would think that, besides a couple of exceptions, no one outside of the US or Western Europe ever made any kind of contribution to psychology, or the philosophy of mind. We have a whole section of the book devoted to classical philosophy, and chapters devoted to early Christian thinkers, but only a single mention of any eastern philosophy of any kind (near the end). Otherwise, not even a hint.
I look forward to a new edition that covers recent research and perhaps corrects the omission of over half the worlds contributions to the field...
I partially agree with other reviewers/critics of this book that many important contributors to the field were left out or marginalized, but I think the book is close to the limit of what can be contained in a single, readable volume, so something had to be left out. It is, after all, the author's and editor's prerogative to choose who and what to emphasize.
Other's have criticized the author's tendency to give us his opinion on just what work of a contributor was important to the development of psychology and what was not. I actually found this refreshing, since so many text books are so carefully neutral, or so fawning, that they skip the very interesting fact that a lot of these polymath geniuses were also crackpots (think of Leibniz and monads). A point of view which helps us to maintain a healthy skepticism about their ideas.
My main criticism of the book (and the reason why it only gets 4 out of 5) is the extreme western slant. To read this book you would think that, besides a couple of exceptions, no one outside of the US or Western Europe ever made any kind of contribution to psychology, or the philosophy of mind. We have a whole section of the book devoted to classical philosophy, and chapters devoted to early Christian thinkers, but only a single mention of any eastern philosophy of any kind (near the end). Otherwise, not even a hint.
I look forward to a new edition that covers recent research and perhaps corrects the omission of over half the worlds contributions to the field...
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