Bion's extraordinary output of papers and books in the decade between 1953 and 1963 changed British psychoanalysis. His theory of thinking and its clinical implications are still being absorbed within the Klein group; and certain analysts outside the group have also begun to take it up as a central pillar to a theory of psychoanalytic technique.

Later, resident in California (1968–1979) Bion gave, and published, a number of lecture/discussions and seminars that he conducted in North and South America.1 The book reviewed here is a new edition of the material from Bion's first three visits to South America in 1973–4. They were previously published in Brazil, and the first series (Sao Paulo 1973) was