Review of Sigmund Freud, 2006,Viking Press, by Kathleen Krull/Illustrasted by Boris Kulikov, Reviewed by Sheldon M. Goodman
While this book would have been a perfect fit for the internationpsychoanalaysis Blog recommendation for summer reading, it just passed by me last week. It is one in a series of books on Giants of Science. The other two being Da Vinci and Isaac Newton. It must be mentioned that the level it is written at is somewhat elementary but this is both a blessing and a curse. One could have easily thrown it in their beach bag and set off for a quick afternoon read. The author aims to inform the young reader who is interested in Freud but I could easily imagine that its charming , though basic presentation is not material for a candidate in psychoanalytic training it would ensnare even such a sophisticated reader with its casual breezy presentation that nonetheless provides a comprehensive picture of Freud’s life and contributions. I could envision it being a first read, especially if the instructing analyst senses they may have some non-believers in the audience (and it even has illustrations!). Some might quibble with some of the author’s points and gloss over certain areas but please remember who the book is aimed at.
What struck me is how much truth the book contains. For one of the simplest yet most striking facts of intellectual history is that, until the beginning of the twentieth century, European thinkers made little significant contribution to the scientific study of human nature and behavior. For at least half a century after Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species we possessed no systematic theory which attempted to explain the exceptionally extraordinary range and complexity of our non-reproductive sexual behavior or depth and power of some of the most everyday human emotions. The fierce taboos and the atmosphere of religious unreason which surrounded nearly every form of intimate human relationships for centuries, had it would seem, triumphed over science itslef. Here, at least the advance of human knowledge, which in almost all other areas had proved irresistible, had been held back.
Upon completing this 144 page gem it is difficult not to come away with the feeling that Freud led an assault on the highest peak of human knowledge in a manner which has seemed to many observers not simply impressive, but in many respects magnificent.
Sheldon M. Goodman