The California Literary Review has an in-depth, interesting interview with the latest Sigmund Freud biographer, Peter D. Kramer. You may remember Kramer as the author of the well-known, Listening to Prozac. The new Freud book is entitled, Freud: Inventor of the Modern Mind. The two reviews of this biography on Amazon.com are mixed, but the link to the interview is worth the free read, as illustrated by this quote:
I think it’s on target, although the ambition was so strong that Freud risked (and encountered) repeated embarrassment. Think of his wild efforts at the start of his psychiatric career. First Freud champions cocaine, including its use to treat morphine addiction—only to discover that his colleagues have experience with both drugs and understand the folly of that approach. Then he claims that tracing hysterical symptoms to their source results in their extirpation—and finds that skilled clinicians have serious doubts. Freud swerves to make the outrageous claims associated with the seduction theory. Then he backtracks and propounds the Oedipus Complex, in effect admitting misreporting in the “onion peeling” cases and the molestation reports. He was swinging wildly, aiming for the fences. And by his own account, every at bat was a home run.
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One Comment to
“How Right Was Freud?”
Well,Freud’s contradictory life is already well documented in Peter Gay’s 700 page book. Not sure we need another unless it has new insights. Yes, Freud had gall, maybe his best trait. Most of his theories are off base, but he stumbled upon much that endures. I cringe when therapists and others use his interpretations …damaging, I’m sure. We have much better strategies now.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 29 Jan 2007
