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biolexicon's review against another edition
2.0
Written with scientific denseness, but lacks scientific rigor or clarity. Can be tedious, vague and confusing. Freud will say he's going to do something (like not use personal examples) only to forget he said that and do it anyway. Or he'll acknowledge the flaw with his approach and then do nothing to correct it (which is better than not admitting it, I guess). For example, he uses his patients, "neurotics", for analysis and comments on how how that makes his conclusions not drawn from a representative sample. But that comment is where it stops, there's no correction or real analysis on how that impacted his conclusions.
Or he'll start out with a clear sentence and then explain it until it descends into an illogical jumble. Or he'll refer to something not obvious as something obvious. Or he'll say there's numerous instances of something and then not list them. I could go on. He gives too many examples, belabors the points he does end up making, references confusing German word play...
I'm not going to make the same mistake as Frued. I'm going to stop talking once my point is made. And I think it's made.
Or he'll start out with a clear sentence and then explain it until it descends into an illogical jumble. Or he'll refer to something not obvious as something obvious. Or he'll say there's numerous instances of something and then not list them. I could go on. He gives too many examples, belabors the points he does end up making, references confusing German word play...
I'm not going to make the same mistake as Frued. I'm going to stop talking once my point is made. And I think it's made.
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
A tough but interesting read.
casparb's review against another edition
Thought this was brilliant & more so than I'd hoped. Also fascinating as an act of autobiography. Perhaps the most unexpected outcome is - and I've got to hand it to the translator Joyce Crick who does a marvellous job - but Freud is exceptionally funny when he wants to be and at times unintentionally.
It does deserve its place as touchstone and centrepiece of his work. I should get around to Civ&Discontents at some point but think I'm going in stranger directions first.
Anyway a lovely time
It does deserve its place as touchstone and centrepiece of his work. I should get around to Civ&Discontents at some point but think I'm going in stranger directions first.
Anyway a lovely time
sreymey's review against another edition
3.0
Freud provides a theoretical framework for understanding the unconscious mind, which includes concepts such as the id, ego, and superego. The id is the primitive, irrational part of the mind that is driven by impulsive desires. The ego is the part of the mind that mediates between the id and the outside world, serving as a realistic and practical component. The superego represents the ethical standards and ideals that are internalised from society, and it serves as a moral guide for the ego. These concepts provide a foundation for understanding the dynamics of the unconscious mind, and the role it plays in shaping our dreams.
alanffm's review against another edition
3.0
I am really conflicted about this book. Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams is truly unique in how it approaches understanding the human mind. Freud's dedication (this book is as much a compilation of case studies as it is a breakthrough in psychoanalytic theory) is truly astounding and the fruits of his labor - particularly acknowledgment of the importance of the subconscious - are infinitely useful. Unfortunately the vast majority of Freud's work is wrong. Nabakov once said that Freud was a kind of modern witch doctor, and given how far fetched a lot of his opinions are, I find myself agreeing with this. There is no doubt that this milestone of a work is important in understanding the field of Psychology, but on a practical level I strongly feel that most people are best off skimming this titan of a book.
cvall96's review against another edition
5.0
thankful i waited until i actually took a class on continental psychoanalaysis until i presumed to have even an inkling of understanding of what freud was on (and it ain’t just coke wrapped in guilt)
ihopethisusernameisnotaken's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
davidemerson's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
A better book than I expected. Actually interesting. All BS by today's standards, but well written and intelligent, and relatable. I can see why this book is popular.