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On the Couch: Twenty Extraordinary Personalities, from Picasso to Putin
384 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2026
6 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy
Someone passed on their own ARC to me so thought I'd give this a go. It turned out to be a complete delight.
I was initially slightly bracing myself, having studied Freud at surface level in school. If you're like me, some of these early theories, and even the more recent ones, can sound quite bizarre or abstract. However, as I read on I found the author's way of applying them to these fascinating characters with careful subjectivity really addictive and enjoyable, like they were paying homage to these pioneers, but at the same time, not shying away from applying their own modern approach, full of insights and wisdom from a long career as a passionate psychotherapist.
This book can be as much of an introspective exercise as you want it to be. I imagine it would benefit most to read it. It was far more than just bleak childhood = bleak existence. Personally, I most enjoyed just turning my full attention to the personalities through this fast-paced format. So many of them I had embarrassingly little knowledge of.
I came away from reading this feeling really empowered. The current geopolitical landscape was acknowledged throughout without force, and the final few chapters totally moved me in a way I wasn't expecting.
I was initially slightly bracing myself, having studied Freud at surface level in school. If you're like me, some of these early theories, and even the more recent ones, can sound quite bizarre or abstract. However, as I read on I found the author's way of applying them to these fascinating characters with careful subjectivity really addictive and enjoyable, like they were paying homage to these pioneers, but at the same time, not shying away from applying their own modern approach, full of insights and wisdom from a long career as a passionate psychotherapist.
This book can be as much of an introspective exercise as you want it to be. I imagine it would benefit most to read it. It was far more than just bleak childhood = bleak existence. Personally, I most enjoyed just turning my full attention to the personalities through this fast-paced format. So many of them I had embarrassingly little knowledge of.
I came away from reading this feeling really empowered. The current geopolitical landscape was acknowledged throughout without force, and the final few chapters totally moved me in a way I wasn't expecting.
May 11, 2026
I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned both about psychology and the biographies of many famous women and men.
The author goes through different psychology principals and showcases them in the life’s of these people not in a particularly structured way but in a way that the book flows nicely.
It felt like your grandpa telling you stories by the fire place.
I didn’t give it 5 stars because I don’t like this idea of nurturing and empathy being femenine principles while intellect and ambition are masculine principles.
I don’t think so sir.
The author goes through different psychology principals and showcases them in the life’s of these people not in a particularly structured way but in a way that the book flows nicely.
It felt like your grandpa telling you stories by the fire place.
I didn’t give it 5 stars because I don’t like this idea of nurturing and empathy being femenine principles while intellect and ambition are masculine principles.
I don’t think so sir.
April 20, 2026
This book explores psychotherapy through historical figures with just the right balance of learning and gossip. Equal parts enlightening and entertaining, it’s exactly my kind of read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews