In this book, clear in print and thought, Dr. Horney offers some individual formulations with regard to the neurotic personality. Building on Freud's work she has not only offered fresh theoretical perspectives but also re-seen and reorganized some of the well-known data.

To an unusual degree Horney has freed herself from the dominance of traditional analytic concepts and has taken the liberty to think afresh about her daily experience. One can only admire the primitive Freudian vigor with which she does this; it is as though she held herself accountable first of all for a sincere and crucial relationship to her patients and was willing to allow theoretical chips to fall where they might. We may well feel that we are again in the bright daylight of early Freudian innovation and quite secure against the stratification of partial insights. The appreciation of Freud's work is so genuine that the theoretical deviations are refreshing rather than annoying.