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This book by Dr. Wittels on Freud and His Time is really very much more comprehensive in its subject matter than the title would indicate. It is true that he discusses in the first chapters, on the development of Professor Freud, the influences that came to bear upon him during his lifetime and which finally found expression in his work. In other words, he attempts to picture Freud in the social and intellectual setting of his day. Aside from this, however, for Dr. Wittels has already done this to a considerable extent in his previous work on Professor Freud, he sets forth in an exceedingly interesting way the present status of psychoanalysis in all its various ramifications, artistic and scientific as well as more specifically therapeutic. It is really a masterful presentation of the case for psychoanalysis, of course as seen by this particular author. For the intelligent layman, or physician for that matter, who has a sufficient understanding of the psychoanalytic situation to be able to enjoy this book, it can be most heartily recommended. It should have a wide reading.
The author's discussion of what he calls the primary and the secondary functions as expressed by the hysterical and the compulsive types of character is very illuminating and helpful, as are in fact his comments all the way through. He indulges in some very free speculation in his chapter on anthropology, but for that matter speculation is about the only thing left to us at this time with regard to man's early condition, and certainly the scientific mind ought not to continue its prejudice against speculation where speculation is the only available tool for attempting to fathom the unknown.
Psychoanalysis is having a hard time to make its way against the demands of the scientists that everything must be measured and finally expressed in mathematical terms, as if the material they deal with had always been capable of such accurate treatment. For all those who believe in the reality of the intangible