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This clearly written book forms part of a series intended for those wishing to find out more about a career in mental health. It is concerned with psychoanalysis and provides a useful, basic introduction for anyone with an interest, but little prior knowledge of the field. It is divided into four main areas covering basic concepts, historical and cultural developments, the principal critiques of the discipline and the research base. With one caveat that I shall mention later, it succeeds admirably in de-mystifying and rendering accessible the theory and practice of psychoanalysis.
The first part of the book addresses the question of definition, and conveys the experience of the analyst and analysand, integrating this with an explanation of clinical concepts. The use of vivid, detailed clinical illustrations illuminates these concepts and elucidates what can seem to those unfamiliar with the psychoanalytic discourse as arcane, inaccessible ideas. The writing is particularly successful in conveying the clinical reality of the experience and the relevance of the concepts. It clarifies, in a down to earth way, how psychoanalysts use the theory to inform their practice.