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Our esteemed colleague has written a unique book on dreams, based on over thirty years' experience as a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and dream researcher. He regards dream data as occupying an exceptional position in analytic treatment as well as in life. His aim is to guide us to increase and sustain our self-awareness. In a lively and clear style, with humorous comments, he invites us to follow him in gaining better understanding of our dreams and realizing insights to better our life. Indeed, throughout the book, Frayn emerges as a caring physician who imparts his clinical wisdom to readers, be they analytic therapists or serious laymen. We are all encouraged to try self-inquiry by understanding our dreams.
The book is composed of eight chapters and three appendices. To begin, Frayn presents a concise and up-to-date summary of dream research: an integration of neurophysiological findings and our clinical knowledge of dreams. This integration is missing in our teaching of dreams in the Toronto institutes. The section on dream research is naturally followed by a section on sleep disorders and their treatment. In addition to detailing the traditional and non-traditional treatments, Frayn adds, “One older psychiatrist I worked with, who had been a doctor as well as prisoner in several concentration camps, told me that sex was the best sleeping aid known to man. I believe him and heartily recommend it” (42-43).
The chapter entitled “Historical Aspects of Dream Interpretation” is superb, an in-depth review of the genesis of dreams starting with the great biblical dream interpreters Joseph and Daniel, and the Greek philosophers. There follow examples from the Christian era and conclude with alternative contemporary dream practices (e.g., Tibetan yoga, native dream interpreters and storytellers, and more.) Nowhere in the literature on dreams have I found such a comprehensive and engaging presentation of the history of dreams. Frayn emerges as a scholar who mastered the gen