Bridger, Alexander J.

English

University of Huddersfield Repository

University of Huddersfield RepositoryBridger, Alexander J.Book review : Sigmund Freud’s Discovery of Psychoanalysis: Conquistador and Thinker by Paul SchimmelOriginal CitationBridger, Alexander J. (2014) Book review : Sigmund Freud’s Discovery of Psychoanalysis: Conquistador and Thinker by Paul Schimmel. The psychologist, 27 (3). p. 208. ISSN 0952-8229 This version is available at http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/21121/The University Repository is a digital collection of the research output of theUniversity, available on Open Access. Copyright and Moral Rights for the itemson this site are retained by the individual author and/or other copyright owners.Users may access full items free of charge; copies of full text items generallycan be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in anyformat or medium for personal research or study, educational or not-for-profitpurposes without prior permission or charge, provided:• The authors, title and full bibliographic details is credited in any copy;• A hyperlink and/or URL is included for the original metadata page; and• The content is not changed in any way.For more information, including our policy and submission procedure, pleasecontact the Repository Team at: E.mailbox@hud.ac.uk.http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/Book ref no: 1899 Name and affiliation: Dr. Alexander John Bridger, Senior Lecturer, University of Huddersfield My suggested headline: Psychoanalysis as a science Publication title: Sigmund Freud’s Discovery of Psychoanalysis: Conquistador and Thinker Author: Paul Schimmel Publisher: Routledge Year of publication: 2014 Paperback price: £18.99  In this book Paul Schimmel provides a very clear and well-written account of how and why Freud became interested in developing a psychoanalytic scientific approach. He explains how Freud began his career as a medical student, then moved onto the study of neurology, hypnotic experiences and then later on why he developed a psychoanalytic approach to study the mind. Freud actually underwent ‘self-analysis’ and used those experiences to conceptualise his psychoanalytic approach to therapy as well as to attempt to make sense of his own emotional difficulties. On some occasions Freud even used cocaine to get rid of his migraines. What Schimmel does wonderfully well in this biographical and personal account of Freud is to undertake a psychoanalytic reading of his letters to key people such as Fliess and Charcot. The words in the book title ‘conquistador’ and ‘thinker’ refer to what Schimmel considers as two oppositional aspects of Freud’s personality, the first aspect as relating to Freud as a conquistador and being adventurous, daring and curious and the second aspect as relating to Freud as a thinker in terms of being scientific, observing and thoughtful. To conclude, Schimmel provides an excellent psychoanalytic reading of Freud’s journey into developing a psychoanalytic approach to the study of the mind. I think that the book would be of great interest to Freudian scholars, psychoanalysts and students interested in learning more about psychoanalysis.   Word count: 230 

Book review : Sigmund Freud’s Discovery of Psychoanalysis: Conquistador and Thinker by Paul Schimmel

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Huddersfield Repository