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It is not the usual practice for a book review to be written by someone well known to the author of the book being reviewed. A book review being written by an acolyte or protege of the author is undoubtedly rarer. Therefore, I should state at the outset that I have known Arnold Bernstein as a teacher and supervisor for more than two decades and, moreover, that my bias toward him—my transference—is clearly of a nature that would render it virtually impossible for me to find fault with this book. It encompasses some 17 pieces Bernstein has contributed to various journals during a career in psychoanalysis spanning six decades, and it explores and elucidates a wide variety of topics in the philosophy and technique of psychotherapy, from the most fundamental to the most esoteric. Bernstein synopsizes his design: “My intention is to stimulate some new thoughts by looking at some old ideas and placing them in a new context. In each instance, although the words and ideas are familiar, I hope that by reframing them in a larger context they will acquire fresh meanings” (p. 201).
Indeed, the first two chapters serve as an orientation to psychotherapy and psychoanalysis—not only for those new to the field, but to practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of their practice. Bernstein begins by outlining relevant terminology, including