Scan barcode
morgan_blackledge's review against another edition
4.0
The Forgotten Language is Erich Fromm’s elucidation of the symbolic structure of dreams, fairytales and myth.
Fromm refutes the notion that there is a concrete, decodable language of symbols in dreams and myth.
According to Fromm, the specific meaning of said symbolic material is deeply personal and influenced by culture and epoch.
But the broader point that dreams, fairytales and myth have symbolic value is, for Fromm, a natural fact.
Fromm begins with a didactic on the history and theories of dream analysis, paying special (but not exclusive) attention to the ideas of Freud.
Fromm asserts that by understanding the symbolic value of dreams, we not only achieve a clearer vision into our individual nature, but more generally speaking, we gain a deeper understanding of the myths, art, and literature that serve as the psychological fundament of all human culture.
Perhaps most importantly, we gain explicit access to the desires and fears that we, and our society at large work tirelessly to repress, but desperately need to experience and integrate in order to awaken and become truly free.
Why 4 stars?
It’s a little tedious.
Maybe I’m simply suffering from a bit of Fromm Fatigue (FF).
That being said.
Great book
Fromm refutes the notion that there is a concrete, decodable language of symbols in dreams and myth.
According to Fromm, the specific meaning of said symbolic material is deeply personal and influenced by culture and epoch.
But the broader point that dreams, fairytales and myth have symbolic value is, for Fromm, a natural fact.
Fromm begins with a didactic on the history and theories of dream analysis, paying special (but not exclusive) attention to the ideas of Freud.
Fromm asserts that by understanding the symbolic value of dreams, we not only achieve a clearer vision into our individual nature, but more generally speaking, we gain a deeper understanding of the myths, art, and literature that serve as the psychological fundament of all human culture.
Perhaps most importantly, we gain explicit access to the desires and fears that we, and our society at large work tirelessly to repress, but desperately need to experience and integrate in order to awaken and become truly free.
Why 4 stars?
It’s a little tedious.
Maybe I’m simply suffering from a bit of Fromm Fatigue (FF).
That being said.
Great book
gijshuppertz's review against another edition
3.0
De symbolische taal is erg boeiend evenals de analyses van verschillende sprookjes, mythen en “Het Proces” van Kafka, echter bestaat de andere helft van het boek uit kritiek op Jung en Freud. Dit was minder interessant.
moontaebae's review against another edition
2.0
فصل اول و تعبیر رویاش جالب بود. حرف تکراری خیلی توش داشت و واقعا خسته کرد منو. ولی در کل جالب بود.
larrys's review against another edition
Okay, I skimmed some of this but I'm calling it read. If I ever want to get deep into the Oedipus myth I know where to come.
The chapter on the history of dream interpretation is the most useful part of this book, largely because you can't get too woo-woo when you're simply detailing a history.
As for how to interpret dreams and nightmares? No thanks.
Erich Fromm was clearly a misogynist. Hell, the guy was 76 the year I was born and I'm in my 40s, so no surprise there. His description of Little Red-Cap as a man-hating tale boggles my mind. That is something I know quite a lot about. He clearly did no research into how and why the Grimm brothers got their hands on that tale, what they did with it, and what it looked like when it belonged to women in oral form.
I despise Freud and I liked where Fromm disagrees with him. Fromm does a good job of summing Freud up, in places. I also liked how he breaks down the different types of symbolism. (I'm a sucker for a good taxonomy.) I also think Fromm raises some good points about the Oedipal tale -- the son was never attracted to his mother. She came with the throne. That kind of puts the kibosh on Freud's Oedipal theory, right?
Overall, if you're really into dreams you might get more out of this. For me, reading about other people's dreams is as boring as hearing about them irl. I don't put much weight on dreams at all, except when they're used symbolically in literature, which is why I picked up this book in the first place.
For someone interested in storytelling and literature, this book won't offer you much.
The chapter on the history of dream interpretation is the most useful part of this book, largely because you can't get too woo-woo when you're simply detailing a history.
As for how to interpret dreams and nightmares? No thanks.
Erich Fromm was clearly a misogynist. Hell, the guy was 76 the year I was born and I'm in my 40s, so no surprise there. His description of Little Red-Cap as a man-hating tale boggles my mind. That is something I know quite a lot about. He clearly did no research into how and why the Grimm brothers got their hands on that tale, what they did with it, and what it looked like when it belonged to women in oral form.
I despise Freud and I liked where Fromm disagrees with him. Fromm does a good job of summing Freud up, in places. I also liked how he breaks down the different types of symbolism. (I'm a sucker for a good taxonomy.) I also think Fromm raises some good points about the Oedipal tale -- the son was never attracted to his mother. She came with the throne. That kind of puts the kibosh on Freud's Oedipal theory, right?
Overall, if you're really into dreams you might get more out of this. For me, reading about other people's dreams is as boring as hearing about them irl. I don't put much weight on dreams at all, except when they're used symbolically in literature, which is why I picked up this book in the first place.
For someone interested in storytelling and literature, this book won't offer you much.
More...