Read Totem and Taboo Resemblances Between The Psychic Lives of Savages and Neurotics Sigmund Freud 9781578988310 Books

Product details Paperback 280 pages Publisher Martino Fine Books (November 24, 2009) Language English ISBN-10 1578988314

Totem and Taboo Resemblances Between The Psychic Lives of Savages and Neurotics Sigmund Freud 9781578988310 Books Reviews

• Freud, an Austrian neurologist, founded psychoanalysis. He is best known for "his theories of the unconscious mind and the mechanism of repression." Freud created the clinical method of psychoanalysis for investigating the mind and treating psychopathology through dialogue between patient and analyst. Totem and Taboo is an interesting read for psychology students -- and those curious about Freud's methods and beliefs.
• Totem and Taboo was originally published (from 1912-1913) in the journal Imago as four essays. These essays are "The Horror of Incest", "Taboo and Emotional Ambivalence", "Animism, Magic and the Omnipotence of Thoughts", and "The Return of Totemism in Childhood".
  
  I am neither a psychologist nor a trained anthropologist. I came to this book after reading Frazer's The Golden Bough-- a friend of my suggested that it made a good counterpoint, both in terms of period and subject. As a lay person, I found it clear and interesting to read. I have enough familiarity with Freud's basic theses that I did not find that I was lost.
  
  I found the last essay, "The Return of Totemism in Childhood" to be the strongest. At least for me, it was the strongest in that it synthesized the ideas from the earlier essays and drew the broadest ideas and conclusions.
  
  The Peter Gay biographical introduction was a nice refresher, particularly for someone who is not a Freud scholar.
• nothing less than 5 star for Sig, of course!
• Can't read anything! the letters are so small and half of the pages are blank, the publisher did a terrible job
• This is one of my all time favorites! It's been awhile since I've read Totem and Taboo, from what I recall, it deals with the origins of incestial prohibition and sexual neurosis. Very accessible and concise!
• everything that had to be said and written is right here...a MUST
• Even psycologic, a brillant and surprisingly clear antrhopologic picture of human being. Universal.
  Full of hard data that contextualizes deep day to day common questions.
• Very interesting and it also offers some very interesting insights to christianity but what's most important is that Freud explains though a bit fragmented how the psychology of the masses and the individual are like two vessels pouring in to each other. I highly recomend this book!