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The Biographizer Trilogy #2
Freud: The Penultimate Biography
In this unofficial, unauthorized sequel to Peter Gay’s groundbreaking Freud: A Life of Our Time, D. Harlan Wilson reveals a side of the man that has proven too disturbing and risqué for past biographers. Based on newly recovered diaries, microfiche, letters, and secret tape recordings, Freud: The Penultimate Biography recounts the daring sexual exploits of the father of psychoanalysis. Once considered to be impotent by the age of forty, if only according to the written testimonies of his wife, Freud is now revealed as an uncompromising flâneur, the figurehead of masculine sexuality and phallic prowess that everybody knew he was. It is a dangerous and at times shocking chronicle that puts the very nature of desire on trial.
“Wilson’s torrid biography of Sigmund Freud has quickly become my fondest guilty pleasure. And I have many guilty pleasures.” —John Sappington Marmaduke, Professor of Psychology and Men’s Studies at the University of Fostoria
“Wilson’s torrid biography of Sigmund Freud has quickly become my fondest guilty pleasure. And I have many guilty pleasures.” —John Sappington Marmaduke, Professor of Psychology and Men’s Studies at the University of Fostoria
- GenresNonfictionPsychology
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2014
3 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
D. Harlan Wilson
72 books349 followersD. Harlan Wilson is an award-winning American novelist, literary critic, editor, playwright, and college professor. He is the author of over thirty book-length works of fiction and nonfiction, and hundreds of hist stories, plays, essays, and reviews have been published across the world in more than ten languages. Recent books include Strangelove Country: Science Fiction, Filmosophy, and the Kubrickian Consciousness, Minority Report, Jackanape and the Fingermen, and Outré.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 26, 2014
The second installment of the “Black Author Trilogy,” the biography of Sigmund Freud serves as a bridge between self-empowerment and self-realization. To better understand how this particular book fits into a trilogy of separate biographies, I would refer you to the first sentence in the third paragraph of my review of Adolf Hitler: The Terminal Biography, which is the first book in the series. The Hitler book is an international bestseller, although the second book in the trilogy is only slight less popular, though more popular than the third book in the trilogy.
I won’t spoil exactly “what” happens in the book, because the plot devlopments and method of character development used by the author in the narrative include an exposition, rising action, climax, rising action, and resolution, like all good books. However, this book is non-fiction, since it’s a biography, and it’s subject matter is Sigmund Freud when Sigmund Freud is not mentioned; D. Harlan Wilson makes a case that everything is about Freud at all times. Freud is everywhere.
The Freud biography considers the concept of the ego as it might relate to the discovery of identity, something that is constantly evolving and shifting; the chapters serve as vivid snapshots of moments that depict how we discover and treat aspects of our subconscious, as well as our desire to manipulate reality to create world we can understand. The book itself serves as a sort of coping mechanism for the curse of discovery; the awareness that our reality is defined by our perception is a relatively frightening thought, if we decide to accept that the universe is nothing but chaos or some manifestation of our subconscious. The biography takes this idea as if it’s a dialogue with Freud, or perhaps a reversal of Freud’s system; the famous doctor is turned inside-out. “I see that you have inflicted us with a realization of our realization, and you must realize, Freud, that you are also a victim or a servant to the subconscious.” I don’t think the biographer wrote that sentence, but I believe it might serve as a simple statement that brings Freud into focus, as the book does.
Since I began reading the trilogy, I have been inspired to change my diet; I now eat whole foods and watch my carb intake. The Freud book does discuss the mental fortitude required to maintain self-discipline; the psychological implications discussed in the actions/dialogue of the characters and events depicted in the novel are sometimes metaphorical, sometimes not. I interpreted the book itself as a sort of “writer’s” coping mechanism by which the writer should free themselves from the shackles of reality in an effort to determine what reality is and how it affects our understanding of the world.
The book also discusses death. I found these parts of the book difficult to relate to because I’m not dead. However, people sometimes die, and the book discusses this at length. I learned something interesting.
D. Harlan Wilson has written a book about the subconscious from the subconscious, while analyzing how the subconscious is rejected subconsciously. If Adolf Hitler and Oedipus had tea together, this book would summarize their debate.
I won’t spoil exactly “what” happens in the book, because the plot devlopments and method of character development used by the author in the narrative include an exposition, rising action, climax, rising action, and resolution, like all good books. However, this book is non-fiction, since it’s a biography, and it’s subject matter is Sigmund Freud when Sigmund Freud is not mentioned; D. Harlan Wilson makes a case that everything is about Freud at all times. Freud is everywhere.
The Freud biography considers the concept of the ego as it might relate to the discovery of identity, something that is constantly evolving and shifting; the chapters serve as vivid snapshots of moments that depict how we discover and treat aspects of our subconscious, as well as our desire to manipulate reality to create world we can understand. The book itself serves as a sort of coping mechanism for the curse of discovery; the awareness that our reality is defined by our perception is a relatively frightening thought, if we decide to accept that the universe is nothing but chaos or some manifestation of our subconscious. The biography takes this idea as if it’s a dialogue with Freud, or perhaps a reversal of Freud’s system; the famous doctor is turned inside-out. “I see that you have inflicted us with a realization of our realization, and you must realize, Freud, that you are also a victim or a servant to the subconscious.” I don’t think the biographer wrote that sentence, but I believe it might serve as a simple statement that brings Freud into focus, as the book does.
Since I began reading the trilogy, I have been inspired to change my diet; I now eat whole foods and watch my carb intake. The Freud book does discuss the mental fortitude required to maintain self-discipline; the psychological implications discussed in the actions/dialogue of the characters and events depicted in the novel are sometimes metaphorical, sometimes not. I interpreted the book itself as a sort of “writer’s” coping mechanism by which the writer should free themselves from the shackles of reality in an effort to determine what reality is and how it affects our understanding of the world.
The book also discusses death. I found these parts of the book difficult to relate to because I’m not dead. However, people sometimes die, and the book discusses this at length. I learned something interesting.
D. Harlan Wilson has written a book about the subconscious from the subconscious, while analyzing how the subconscious is rejected subconsciously. If Adolf Hitler and Oedipus had tea together, this book would summarize their debate.
September 10, 2016
D. Harlan Wilson is a tremendous liar and a genius, the two traits most important in a novelist. I continue to be entertained by his ridiculous and absurd fake biographies. If you suppose that what a biographer chooses to say about their subject tells more about the biographer than their subject and take that supposition to the nth degree this is what you'll get. The book mentions Freud quite a bit but is not any more about him than Wilson's Hitler: The Terminal Biography was about Hitler.
My favorite line from the book: "Here’s a tip: the more you critique this book, the more it will critique you."
My favorite line from the book: "Here’s a tip: the more you critique this book, the more it will critique you."
June 18, 2014
*explodes*
June 25, 2023
Whatever I knew about Freud is now confirmed although, on the outrageous level of absurdity I can say Wilson is a genius and this biographizer is talented liar but truth be told the risqué approach is hilarious.
March 10, 2021
sorry I bought it
June 14, 2014
D. Harlan Wilson has gone off the strange end with his brilliant THE BIOGRAPHIZER TRILOGY and this "penultimate" biography of Freud, catapulting off of Wilson's HITLER biography (also, damn strange, yet oddly satisfying), and expanding upon the idea of writing a book as quickly as he can, speaks to us through ab-ripping diet tips and techniques, Sigmund Freud's short-lived high school career as a basketball player, the hilarity of writers' conferences, and Wilson's therapeutic (i.e. chiropractic) relationship to his publisher. And more. Much more. Confused? You should be. You will be. However, at the same time, you'll find yourself compelled to keep reading these thoughts from your unpredictable biographizer, Mr. D. Harlan Wilson. So, if you're looking to read something fast that's not quite fiction, not quite a biography, not quite stable, but richly readable and extremely chaotic, in the best possible way, treat yourself to a dose of Freud--have a cigar, good friend!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews