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The Textbook of Applied Psychoanalysis is a unique and original contribution to the field of psychoanalysis. Emphasizing and underscoring the need for interdisciplinary discourse in understanding the dialectical relationship between mind and culture, this volume addresses a multiplicity of realms. These include anthropology, religion, philosophy, history, as well as evolutionary psychology, medicine, race, poverty, migration, and prejudice. Dimensions of social praxis such as education, health policy, and cyberpsychology are also addressed. The enrichment of our understanding of the fine arts (e.g. painting, sculpture, poetry) and performing arts (e.g. music, dance, cinema) by the application of psychoanalytic principles and the enhancement of psychoanalysis by bringing such arts to bear upon it also form areas of this book's concern. This magisterial volume brings distinguished psychoanalysts, philosophers, musicians, poets, businessmen, architects, and movie critics together to create a chorus of modern, anthropologically-informed and culturally sensitive psychoanalysis.
About the author
Salman Akhtar, MD, was born in India and completed his medical and psychiatric education there. Upon arriving in the USA in 1973, he repeated his psychiatric training at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and then obtained psychoanalytic training from the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Institute. Currently, he is Professor of Psychiatry at Jefferson Medical College and a training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He has authored, edited or co-edited more than 300 publications including books on psychiatry and psychoanalysis and several collections of poetry. He is also a Scholar-in-Residence at the Inter-Act Theatre Company in Philadelphia. Salman Akhtar received the Sigourney Award in 2012.Stuart W. Twemlow, MD is medical director of the Hope Program, director of the Peaceful Schools and Communities Project of the Child and Family Program, the Menninger Clinic; professor of psychiatry of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine; and faculty member of the Houston-Galveston Psychoanalytic Institute.
Summary
This encyclopedic volume contains essays on the interface between psychoanalysis and anthropology, religion, migration, medicine, health policy,social turmoil, civic institutions, fine arts, sports, theatre, music and dance, among other topics.
Report
International Acclaim!
Akhtar and Twemlow's Textbook of Applied Psychoanalysis is an original, courageous and extremely useful volume for psychoanalysts and non- psychoanalysts alike. They have brought together forty four distinguished contributors to tackle a wide variety of topics. These experts elucidate the customary concerns of applied psychoanalysis such as fiction, painting, sculpture, music and photography and also explore contemporary issues including migration, poverty, terrorism, cyber -psychology, and inter-ethnic conflict. This is an important book indeed.
Marilia Aisenstein (France)
This wonderful collection of essays creates new bridges between psychoanalysis and other cultural fields while assuring that the conceptual traffic remains interdisciplinary and bi-directional. The innovative and openminded vision of its editors, the unexpected variety and broad range of areas covered, and the scientific prestige of the contributors will deservedly attract and influence a wide international readership.
Stefano Bolognini (Italy)
At last we have the definitive book on the psychoanalytic understanding of diverse cultural phenomena and vexing social issues. In covering an astonishing range of themes - from fine and performing arts to biology, from human sciences to society and politics - this encyclopedic volume becomes an invaluable guide for everyone who wants to know what the best of contemporary psychoanalysis has to offer outside the clinic.
Sudhir Kakar (India)
This book is an all-encompassing attempt to apply the conceptual tools of psychoanalysis to enhance our understanding of various cultural and sociopolitical aspects of human life. It is unique since it is firmly anchored in psychoanalytic theory and yet exemplifies a genuine effort at interdisciplinary collaboration. It is a timely and highly relevant book for all.
Ilany Kogan (Israel)
Salman Akhtar and Stuart Twemlow have created much more than the most complete volume about psychoanalysis and its contributions to the arts, literature, neuroscience, the social sciences, and critical social issues facing humankind today. They make the overdue case that psychoanalysis has much to offer and learn from other fields while enriching its own unique set of ideas. Readers will be in awe and feel grateful.
Mark D. Smaller (United States)
