Wilfred Bion: His Life and Works

by Gerald Bleandonu

Wilfred Bion was one of the most original and influential thinkers in recent psychoanalysis. His ideas, which can be traced in direct line in the development of psychoanalytic theory from Freud to Melanie Klein, are difficult to grasp because his writing style was often enigmatic and ambiguous. This is the first full biography and the first comprehensive explication of his significant contribution to psychoanalytic theory and practice.

Dr. Bleandonu takes us through Bion's personal and intellectual explorations and gives clear accounts of his key concepts, including work groups and basic assumption groups, psychotic processes, catastrophic change, abandonment of memory and desire, the mystic, and ultimate truth. In addition, the grid is carefully laid out and explicated; the emergence of the idea of links, and attacks on them, as a core theme for the rest of Bion's working life is given proper attention; and Bion's attempt to creat an extensive psychoanalytic epistemology is discusses. Finally Bleandonu guides the reader through the fantasy writings in Memoir of the Future, the masterpiece that is Bion's autobiography, and his final writings, including the posthumous Cogitations.

Significant reading for anyone with an interest in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and the development of psychoanalytic thought, this volume will be valued by professionals and students alike.

Genres: Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 1999

Reviews

[Paul Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to rate this book. It covers the full range of Bion's work from his early writings right up to the more unconventional late period of writing and also contains some interesting information about Bion's life. It is a fascinating journey and I read the first parts of the book fairly quickly; however, it does get more difficult. The main reason for that is of course that what Bion was writing because very difficult to understand. Bleandonu's response is semi-Bionian - he certainly doesn't explain what Bion was saying in clear and simple terms! Rather he talks about it in a fairly general way and hints at possible meanings (and even possible weaknesses and limitations). So the book left me with a somewhat clearer view of Bion the man and a not much clearer view of Bion the thinker/analyst. It did also leave me with some uncertainty about how well Bleandonu understands Bion - the book demonstrates his deep knowledge of Bion and his intelligence and breadth of reading, but in terms of sharing his understanding of Bion, he errs on the side of not wanting to spoon feed! In terms of content, I probably learnt more from the Symington book on Bion - although I was very glad to get more info on Bion's life and my curiosity about his "crazy" writings was certainly also increased.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course I am the first person on Goodreads to read this book: why would anyone read this unless they were forced to via their own PhD research.