A Way of Looking at Things - Selected Papers, 1930-1980 (Paperback, Revised)

A massive tome collecting everything from trivia to entire monographs by the famed psycho-historian who explained Martin Luther's life by his constipation, and Gandhi's by his sexual abstinence."Selected" is not the right word for a book of almost 800 pages that includes seemingly everything but laundry lists (e.g., a note of congratulations to some friends on their wedding anniversary). Otherwise, this book takes a lot of going through. Part of the reason is that Erikson, apart from being prolific, is a heavy, unexciting writer. His analyses of the Black Panther Movement and student revolts are detailed in slow polysyllables until Erikson actually makes these issues seem boring. In doing so, he may have provided a service in cooling angry hearts and minds, but surely this was not his intention. A curious modesty sneaks into these pieces, such as when Erikson accepts the National Book Award for his study on Gandhi, and denies that it is "really a good book." The Gandhi book has been thoroughly discredited by Ved Mehta, just as Erikson's work on Luther was discredited by Roland Bainton, among other scholars. In short, there may be much reason for modesty in the works of this psycho-historian whose history was often ill-founded. Doubtless, Erikson has integrity - he resigned from the University of California rather than reaffirm a loyalty oath he had already signed during the McCarthy era. His wartime analyses of Hitler's speeches and his own suggestions for the treatment of mentally damanged veterans have a firm place in the history of psychoanalysis. Yet most of the material reprinted here might well have remained in its original place, as it is of immediate interest to few but Erikson disciples and biographers of modern psychology. (Kirkus Reviews)

This collection of his writings reflects the evolution of his ideas over the course of 50 years, beginning with his earliest experiences in psychoanalysis in Vienna. The papers cover a wide spectrum of topics, from children's play and child psychoanalysis to the dreams of adults, cross-cultural observations, young adulthood and the life cycle. The text also contains reminiscences about colleagues such as Anna Freud and Ruth Benedict who played important roles in Erikson's life and work.

General

Imprint:	W W Norton & Co Inc
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	October 1995
First published:	June 1995
Authors:	Erik H. Erikson
Dimensions:	234 x 155 x 36mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	812
Edition:	Revised
ISBN-13:	978-0-393-31314-7
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Child & developmental psychology Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Philosophy & theory of psychology > Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory Books > Social sciences > Psychology > States of consciousness > Sleep & dreams Promotions
LSN:	0-393-31314-X
Barcode:	9780393313147

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