The author links Newirth's ideas to those of other authors whose work appears consistent with his, and comments on and associates to some of his ideas. Newirth epitomizes Thomas Ogden's precept that it is incumbent upon the analyst to reinvent psychoanalysis with each patient. Topics addressed include helping patients to think, responding to psychic deadness, analytic self disclosure, some benefits and drawbacks of being a psychoanalyst, and the motivation to become an analyst. Newirth encourages us to work without guilt towards being creative in finding effective, often playful ways to respond to patients when more traditional approaches are not enough.