Very Short Introductions--Freud

While listening to the ramblings of his rich and neurotic Viennese patients, Sigmund Freud developed theories on how the mind works and falters. His method of psychoanalysis and his proposed terms--Oedipus complex, ego, superego, and id, among others--revolutionized Western thought and psychiatric treatment. Surprisingly, he could never control his body's lethal addiction to tobacco, and the doctor underwent 22 operations for cancer of the palate. British narrator Neville Jason sets a slow pace suited for listeners needing to absorb challenging new terms and ideas. His reading style, which is characterized by theatrical pronunciation and a conversational tone, adds warmth to the otherwise cold rhetoric, elevating this audio-educational experience from dull to pleasant. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine