The Search for the Self. Selected Writings of Heinz Kohut: 1950–1978 (Vols. I & Ii); 1978–81 (Vols. III & IV): Edited by Paul Ornstein. New York: International Universities Press, Inc. 1978 (Vols. I & II) 1991 (Vols. III & IV). Pp. 969 (Vols. I & II); Pp. 858 (Vols. III & IV).

In these four volumes, Paul Ornstein presents a valuable compilation of the papers and letters of Heinz Kohut, representing all of his psychological writings with the exception of his three books. Included are 67 papers and 93 letters, as well as an index to the complete works of Heinz Kohut, prepared by Douglas W. Detrick.

In Ornstein's introduction, conceived of as a kind of 'guided tour', he traces the development of Kohut's work from the earliest papers, delineating important lines of thought and nodal points. Key papers are ascribed to each of the main lines of thought or are identified as nodal points. A chart illustrating the organization of the work appears in the third volume. (The introduction is presented in two parts, the first addressing Volumes I and II and the second, a continuation of the first, written for Volumes III and IV.)

In his exposition, Ornstein summarizes the principal ideas advocated in the main papers. He updates Kohut's earlier 'libido theory' language into later self-psychological terminology and, as well, identifies the beginnings of new theoretical and technical ideas. To illustrate, Ornstein comments on the case of Mr H,