A List of books which can help anyone get a better understanding of Psychoanalysis / Psychotherapy / Psychology
During therapy and after gaining insight into the problems related to themselves and their environment, the patients start becoming curious and begin to wonder:
“This is very interesting, what book can I read to get more information? “
Maybe you also have a similar question on your mind, maybe you too are wondering, “What book can I read to get a better understanding about what’s going on inside me or around me?“
Of course, we don’t expect that one will read a book and will understand everything and change his/her life. But I am sure that getting information from a reliable source on some subjects will help you to have a clear idea.
“This is very interesting, what book can I read to get more information? “
Maybe you also have a similar question on your mind, maybe you too are wondering, “What book can I read to get a better understanding about what’s going on inside me or around me?“
Of course, we don’t expect that one will read a book and will understand everything and change his/her life. But I am sure that getting information from a reliable source on some subjects will help you to have a clear idea.
As a specialist psychotherapist, I can offer you following readings as reliable and easy to understand resources for beginners:
1- Psychopathology of Everyday Life - Sigmund Freud
Unarguably Freud’s most readable book, where he writes about slips and parapraxes, how our minds can play tricks on us, how we might not be as in control as we think, and why.
I chose this as the first book since Freud is the father of psychoanalysis and therefore also psychotherapy.
I chose this as the first book since Freud is the father of psychoanalysis and therefore also psychotherapy.
2- Self-Seeking Man - Rollo May
Rollo May is one of the most famous psychotherapists in the world. In this book he sheds light on some important questions in a humorous and approachable way, all in the hopes of eventually reaching inner integrity.
He urges us to ask ourselves about who we are, whether we are just mirrors reflecting other people’s expectations of us, and whether we are dissatisfied with our relationships. If you are willing to take a journey of self-reflection then this book will help you immensely.
He urges us to ask ourselves about who we are, whether we are just mirrors reflecting other people’s expectations of us, and whether we are dissatisfied with our relationships. If you are willing to take a journey of self-reflection then this book will help you immensely.
3- The Art of Loving - Erich Fromm
In my practice I have often encountered situation where my patients inform me that their significant others criticize them and then later claim that it is out of love. When I ask my patients, “Why do you think they are doing that to you?”, they answer, “because they love me.”
It therefore always leads to me asking, “And what do you think love is?”
I am asking you now as well, “Do you know what love is?”
If we don’t know the answer to such a question then how can we love something or someone else? How can we be sure that we are loved?
In this book Erich Fromm demonstrates very clearly what love is.
It therefore always leads to me asking, “And what do you think love is?”
I am asking you now as well, “Do you know what love is?”
If we don’t know the answer to such a question then how can we love something or someone else? How can we be sure that we are loved?
In this book Erich Fromm demonstrates very clearly what love is.
4- Human Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl
Viktor Frankl, a famous psychiatrist who survived one of history’s most terrible crimes of man against his fellow man, the Holocaust. He gives us insight into his suffering and how he managed to survive shedding light on one of humanities most important questions, “what makes one huma
5- Listen! The Little Man - William Reich
In this book of Reich, the famous psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who was a student of Sigmund Freud, floods us with questions that force us to face ourselves.
He tackles global concepts that most of as take at face value, such as: homeland, customs, love, work and knowledge.
This work is a self-criticism, which aims at questioning our very condition and if you are brave enough to take on such a challenge you will finish this book having gained a lot.
He tackles global concepts that most of as take at face value, such as: homeland, customs, love, work and knowledge.
This work is a self-criticism, which aims at questioning our very condition and if you are brave enough to take on such a challenge you will finish this book having gained a lot.
6- Play and Reality- D.W. Winnicott
This book is for you if you need help in understanding babies and children. Donald Winnicott, an English paediatrician who was later interested in child psychology and psychoanalysis, shares with us his profound observations and opinions which he reached as a result of his intensive activity with infants and children. One can safely say that he is a cornerstone of our understanding of the inner worlds of babies and children.
