In this big book with a most impressive bibliography the author, a psychologist from Australia's Monash University, has set himself the task of evaluating “Freud's personality theory,” that is Freud's entire edifice, in the historical context and against the logical and scientific context of Freud's own time. It is a work of daunting scholarship and erudition and a rich sourcebook regarding the origins of psychoanalysis.

It is also envisaged as a “very critical work” (p. 2), however, the core criticism specifically aimed at the heart of Freud's method, “Freud's basic method for gathering data—free association,” from the start characterized as “originally inadequate” (p. 2). While rising above vulgar Freud-bashing its aim is nothing short of dismantling the mansion Freud built.

In a nutshell, the author has mapped out the plan for the book as follows.