Dream Mind: How and Why We Dream

by Bill Naughton, William J. Naughton

The key to an understanding of all dream phenomena lies in knowing how we actually dream and why. Once that is grasped that enigma of sleep and dreaming largely explains itself, and dreaming can be seen for what it is - a biological safeguard of the sleeping person. So begins Bill Naughton's exploration of the dreaming mind. For many years, Bill Naughton, perhaps best known as the author of Alfie, kept a journal about his and others dream world. At times deeply personal and at others more general, this account covers a number of key topics, from the scientific and symbolic, to sexuality, arousal and guilt. Also brought into play are dream stimuli, and the importance of the artistic, be it literature, film, theatre, opera or the plastic arts. This deeply meditated book on dreaming is sure to provoke, stimulate - and to contribute to our overall understanding of just How and Why We Dream.

180 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

William John Francis Naughton (1910-1992) was a popular ‘working class’ author and playwright who was born in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland in June 1910 and died in early January 1992 in Ballasalla, Isle of Man. He was four years old when his family moved to Bolton, Lancashire, where, after leaving school around 1924, he worked as a weaver, coal-bagger and lorry-driver, enjoying a variety of experience and knowledge before starting to write with a rare honesty and perception about ‘ordinary’ people. Although ‘Alfie’ is the play with which he will always be associated, mostly because of the film starring Michael Caine, he was a prolific writer of quality work which included such notable plays as ‘My Flesh My Blood’, ‘All In Good Time’; plus novels, short stories and children’s books. Two other plays were made into films –‘Spring and Port Wine’, with James Mason as Rafe Crompton, and ‘The Family Way’, which starred John Mills. His work also included ‘One Small Boy’, ‘A Roof Over Your Head’, and short story collections such as ‘Late Night on Watling Street’ ‘The Bees Have Stopped Working’, and ‘The Goalkeeper's Revenge’. Among his most popular autobiographical works, well worth seeking out, are ‘On The Pig’s Back’ and ‘Saintly Billy’.