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This is a collection of papers previously published in English and German over a period of some two decades (1930-1952) by the author who is a training analyst and former student of Ferenczi. The author perpetuates his teacher's critical attitude, his refreshing inclination to evaluate the success of therapy, and his willingness to strike out in new theoretical directions. He writes simply, directly, and clearly. The harsh polemical tone and dogmatic pontifications of many analytic writings are missing. Those who have read his papers hi the International Journal of Psychoanalysis have come to recognize the author's very honest attitude to some of the difficulties and shortcomings of Freudian therapy.
The first half of the volume consists of eight papers on “Instincts and Object-Relations” which has a strong flavor of Ferenczi's wide ranging theoretical speculations. A very valuable paper is the one “On The Theory of Pregenital Organizations of the Libido” . Balint makes a careful analysis of the very primitive relationship which exists between mother and child which he describes as “primitive love”.
Part Two of the volume contains eight papers on the problems of technique, and it is here that Dr. Balint really shows his strength. It is in this section that the author's incisive, critical honesty is best exhibited as he studies the changing therapeutical aims and techniques of psychoanalysis, questions of transference and counter-transference, and final goals in treatment. The writing throughout is studded with eminently quotable insights, (e.g. “Genital satisfaction is apparently only a necessary and not a sufficient condition of genital love.”) This is a small volume, but a valuable one which repays close reading and