A review by piccoline
Greatness and Limitations of Freud's Thought by Erich Fromm

4.0

Nice overview of Freud's work, by the brilliant Fromm. What's especially enjoyable and useful is how bold Fromm can be in both celebrating certain aspects of Freud's work while also wielding a sharp blade when it comes time to criticize that same work. The offhanded observation, late in the book, that Freud's position as part of a powerful, rich elite that kept its status by manipulating and (thought) controlling the "unruly" masses was undoubtedly a factor in his creation of ego (rational elite) and id (unwashed masses) as universal features of humanity hit me right in the forehead. It's so obviously true, once he points it out. Fromm provides quite a few excellent points along these lines.