Hmmm..
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I find this book interesting to read, and there is alot of information. However, the book is very small and thin, and i much more prefer to read books that are larger. This book does not cover information indepth and the words are small print so anyone with bad eyesight may struggle.
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A first-rate introduction to Freud
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Freud is now somewhat unfashionable, and stands on the periphery of current psychological thought and practice. Yet the very people who denigrate his work do so using terms and concepts that owe a great deal to that work. To be a 'Freudian' today makes as much sense as being a 'Newtonian', but that should not blind us to the importance of his contribution. Storr adopts just the right approach -- he begins each topic with a summary of what Freud said, then offers criticisms of it. He talks more than once of the need to 'separate the wheat from the chaff'. Freud was once revered as a kind of Messiah. Now he is often reviled. As usual, the truth lies somewhere in between. Given the brevity of this book, it is remarkably comprehensive, and is an ideal introduction to the man and his work. I read Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction before reading this book and I would recommend doing that. There is an obvious indebtedness, although Freud specifically denied it.
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Great Introduction
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I have been disappointed by other books in this series. Despite being a big Germaine Greer fan, I felt her introduction to Shakespeare lacked focus and was, frankly, boring. But "Freud" was a definite exception. It engaged me right from the beginning and was pitched at exactly the right level - not too complex but not patronising either. As others have commented, Storr's style is elegent and carries you through the harder sections. I felt his opinions were balanced well. All too often people are either unquestioningly enthusiastic about Freud or completely write off all his ideas as worthless nonsense. I did think the book lost its way slightly in the chapters on art and culture, but I think that was partly because I was less interested in those topics. The book acheives its aim to provide a solid but brief introduction. I am looking forward to moving on to a slightly more in-depth study.
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Nice introduction
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The Oxford University Press 'A very short introduction to...' books are generally very good, and this is certainly no exception. As with the others, it is not insulting to one's intelligence (An idiot's guide to...), doesn't assume that you can't understand anything more complicated than a cartoon (Introducing...), and still imparts a good basic knowledge of the man and his work. There's no way that this book would be enough to understand everything, and certainly doesn't replace reading actual works, but it arms you with more than enough knowledge for everyday conversations. The writing style is quite nice, and fairly easy to read, and a good degree of objectivity is shown throughout - in no way is this a homage to Freud. Personally, I think that if you wish to gain a good understanding of basic worldly knowledge, this series of books is an excellent place to start, and your understanding of psychoanalysis, not just Freud, will be enhanced through this book.
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Best introduction to freud available
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I think i first read this book in its prior incarnation as an oxford Past Master almost 10 years ago, whilst a medical student. Now as a practicing psychiatrist I still return to it again and again. Storr is a very elegant writer and was an excellent clinical psychiatrist and psychotherapist - this work demonstrates these attributes and is additionally the most concise and thorough introduction to Freud I know. I still recommend it to psychiatrists and medical students.
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