Ґуру, спільник і скептик. Історії про науку, секс і психоаналіз

by Seamus O'Mahony

Геніальна й дотепна книжка про переплетені долі психоаналітика Ернеста Джонса, хірурга Вілфреда Троттера та ґуру психоаналізу Зиґмунда Фройда

Розумний, впевнений у собі й надзвичайно амбітний уельський психоаналітик Ернест Джонс був найближчим соратником і найпалкішим учнем Зиґмунда Фройда. Джонс пропагував психоаналіз, як своєрідну світську релігію. Тим часом чоловік його сестри Вілфред Троттер — знаменитий хірург, який врятував життя Ґеорґа V, і став лікарем Фройда під час його лондонського заслання — не піддався чарам фройдизму. Він не сприймав спритних кар'єристів від медицини, не довіряв грандіозним теоріям, був позбавлений пихатості й самозакоханості, що діяло як своєрідна «вакцина» проти Фройда.

Від першого психоаналітичного конгресу в Зальцбурзі до хвороби короля Ґеорґа й першої зустрічі Фройда й Троттера — Шеймус О'Магоні не просто розповідає історію трьох визначних постатей, а й розкриває всі секрети сексуальних одержимостей інтелектуальних і богемних кіл Лондона, Кембриджа й Відня. «Ґуру, спільник і скептик» охоплює тридцять переломних років європейської історії, серед якої і творив невдаха-невропатолог із Відня, який здобув світовий вплив.

Genres: Biography, History, Psychology, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis, Science

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Desmond Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story of the life and death of psychoanalysis, Freud somehow becomes a minor character, and a sympathetic one in comparison to those around him. He was at least honest about what he was doing, and his monumental flaws were there for all to see, if they had wished to see them, along with his creative genius. "Bagman" is not a familiar term in the USA, but it suggests someone who assists in the commitment of a crime, furthering the interests of another. The bagman here is Ernest Jones, the acolyte and promoter of Freud's work who dominated the practice of psychoanalysis in the UK for decades. (My unreasonable prejudice that most psychiatrists are far more disturbed than their patients is fully confirmed in Jones.) Wilfred Trotter, a revered surgeon now largely forgotten, and a close friend of Jones, is the sceptic and by far the most admirable, competent, and reasonable person in this story. If you are interested in the history of the treatment of mental illness, or in reading about rich narcissists and their pathetic disturbed lives, this is the book for you. After this, try every other book by Seamus O'Mahony, particularly The Ministry of Bodies.

[Lexie Juno · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off well: an interesting mix of personalities, an entertaining exploration of the advent of psychoanalysis and reference to particular cases at the time.

My main issue is the author’s clear bias in his writing coupled with throwaway comments and armchair psychiatric diagnoses, which make it clear that he does not have a good understanding of his subject matter.

Good historical writing provides a balanced overview with clear arguments for a particular perspective. Dr O’Mahony is openly dismissive and critical of psychoanalysis, but doesn’t actually back this up with any reasoned arguments.

We are told that Melanie Klein is “evil”, Ernest Jones probably has antisocial personality disorder (zero evidence for this) and other people were “correctly diagnosed” with schizophrenia (despite their presentation sounding more like mania). These are just a few examples.

In fact as the book progresses he sneers more and more at different people (see Melanie Klein above) without discussing their theories or what these have contributed to modern psychiatric understanding.

It’s lazy writing without a clear argument, and the addition of Trotter adds very little to it. There are so many ways one could have explored the development of psychoanalysis (and have). Many psychoanalytic theories are not upheld in modern practice but much of that work informed our current understanding.

Like most of modern medicine, our history involves people experimenting, sometimes cruelly, and misusing others to learn more about the human condition. We learn about these experiments today in psychiatric training to acknowledge the harm that was done, and strive not to repeat it. This book could have addressed that and been a much better piece of writing as a result.

Disclaimer: I am a psychiatrist, and this is partly why this book has frustrated me. Other doctors writing about subjects they don’t understand can often lead to problems. I won’t be writing a book about gastroenterology any time soon!

[Anthony O'Keeffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent deep dive on the progenitors of psychoanalytic theory, their ideas, arguments, affairs and so so many letters. In all of the many psychoanalysts discussed here, not a single one comes out unscathed (well maybe Bion and Jung), as a result of their own narcissistic and grandiose importance, rather than any withering assessment of the author.

The book reads very well mostly, but the author likely has been infected by the verbose language used in the analysts' letters. On many occasions, a fluid passage is abruptly interrupted by an arcane, must-be-googled word. Nevertheless, it is a complaint that doesn't take a star away from the rating. There are succinct and brilliant chapters on Edward Bernays, Wilfred Trotter and the final chapter is an excellent overview of the legacy of psychoanalysis and the reputations of it's chief adherents.

Half as a result of excellent informative writing, and half in admiration of Trotter, I take the position of a Sceptic. If only I could take on the gait and mannerisms too

[Toni Kely-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Freud is well-known and I remember my own father referring to him in a doubtful manner and it's clear the author doesn't see psycho-analysis as a medical science but more like quakery. This covers the lives of three men - Freud, the Guru who "discovered" pyscho-analysis after suffering a spritual crisis, Jones (the least likeable) the Bagman who was instrumental in promoting Freud's ideas and worked hard for psycho-analysis to be respected as a medical science and Trotter (who seems the most sane) the sceptic, a respected surgeon and friend of Jones.

This definitely paints a picture that psycho-analysis was for the elite - those that could afford to lay on couches for hours at a time to have their thoughts and actions anaysised. Many of Freuds theories have been debunked, since this time but this is an interesting read about Freud's theories and their contribution to the history of mental illness.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd book, it details the beginning and growth of the psychoanalytic movement. The Guru is Freud, the bagman is Ernest Jones, and the Sceptic is Wilfred Trotter. The latter person is obscure, but he was a very important surgeon who believed in the scientific method, which was the antithesis to the Freudian movement. This book will be of useful to anyone interested in the beginnings of psychoanalysis.

[Richard Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvellous, funy, readable book by a gifted storyteller. Perhaps his best yet. My blog:

https://richardswsmith.wordpress.com/...

[Conrad Timon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but not brilliant!

[Sam Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fucking weird

[Bistra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun but a lot of detail was lost on me.
Still, it had plenty to make one suspect of psychoanalysis.

[Anna BAGRIY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Супер

[Marta Bartoshevska · Rating 3 out of 5]

автор так нанеймдропав у цій книжці, що її сміливо можна було назвати «зігмунд фройд і всі-всі-всі»

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of three men: the Guru Freud, the bagman Ernest Jones and the sceptic Wilfred Trotter, O'Mahony makes it pretty clear where his sympathy lies, describing Jones's book on Freudian theory as the 'rattling of the stick inside the swill bucket' and comparing many unpleasant characters associated with Freud, Jones and psychoanalysis with what O'Mahony believes is one of the great doctors of the twentieth century, Trotter. It's clear Trotter embodies what O'Mahony, himself a retired consultant, believes are the marks of a great doctor and the contrast drawn between the Freudians and Trotter is stark and unsparing. The book is a little disjointed, consisting more of a series of loosely connected vignettes than a flowing narrative, but O'Mahony loves and can tell a good story and this book is packed full of them.

[Alex Delogu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but lacks argumentative depth.