Freud: A Very Short Introduction

Freud: A Very Short Introduction – Anthony Storr

Sigmund Freud is one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of the modern age. His ideas about the unconscious, dreams, sexuality and the structure of the mind transformed psychology and left a lasting mark on literature, art, philosophy and everyday language.

In Freud: A Very Short Introduction, the distinguished psychiatrist and writer Anthony Storr offers a clear, balanced and concise account of Freud’s life and work. He explains the development of psychoanalysis, from Freud’s early medical career and his work with hysteria, through the theories of repression, the interpretation of dreams and infantile sexuality, to his later ideas about the id, ego and superego, the death instinct and civilization.

Storr examines both the strengths and weaknesses of Freud’s theories. He recognizes Freud’s genius and lasting contributions, particularly the value of listening attentively to patients and the importance of the unconscious, while critically assessing the scientific basis of his claims and the aspects of his thought that have not stood the test of time.

Part of Oxford University Press’s acclaimed Very Short Introductions series, the book is accessible to general readers while offering enough depth to be useful to students.

Freud: A Very Short Introduction is an ideal starting point for anyone curious about psychoanalysis and its founder, and a helpful companion for students of psychology, philosophy and cultural history.