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Dr. Nemiah has written a beguiling book. It is intended as an introduction to psychological principles for those who have little or no knowledge of psychology. In this respect, it fulfils its purpose admirably. One is led from one striking literary example to another. Indeed, the author's style and clarity are such that one finds oneself reading the book for the 'story'. He cites St. Augustine, Robert Burton, Marcel Proust, Rainer Maria Rilke, John Clare, Gérard de Nerval, Oliver St. John Gogarty, and AE. He develops a strong literary background that gives a fresh approach to psychological conflict and also indicates the universality of such conflict. An example is a book entitled, Agent of Death, by Robert Elliott—the reminiscences of an executioner at Sing Sing who carefully delineates the detailed care with which he did his work; Nemiah contrasts this with the impulsive-aggressive outburst of a murderer. This literary reference serves to illuminate the discussion of ego functions.
In his case examples, Nemiah is not quite so successful since, as in most textbooks, they have a rather contrived quality and sometimes tend to obscure the point the author is trying to clarify. This is especially true in a protracted discussion of depression, mourning, and pathological grief. Here the author moves finally to a more didactic delineation of the concepts of incorporation, introjection, and identification.
The book is divided into four major parts: I, Form, Fantasy, and Interviewing: Exploring the Design of Psychological Illness; II, Three Fundamental Concepts—Psychological Conflict, The Unconscious and Repression, and Past in Present: The Childhood Roots of Emotional Disorders; III, Symptom Formation, which includes a discussion of ego structure, narcissism, and depression; IV, Emotions, Illness, and the Therapeutic Relationship.
The volume is intended for medical students who have not as yet had clinical experience, and for them it should serve as an admirable