Freud: Living and Dying

by Max Schur

The title of this large book suggests the difficulty of defining the scope of it. The author states that the approach & title of his earlier work, The Problem of Death in Freud's Writings & His Life, were too narrow for the present work. 'The problem of life & death cannot be separated. The wish to live & all the elements which sustain it, the fear of death, which can gradually change into acceptance, or even into a wish to die, the conflict & shifting balance of these opposing wishes are all part of human existence. My book will…deal with all these elements as they are reflected in the life of one man. However, the choice of material is highly selective, & many of Freud's works & events in his life are not discussed.' Schur emphasizes the fact that his book, 'although a biographical study, is not a full-scale biography' (p.16). I believe that the true theme of the book is the history & prehistory of Schur's relationship to Freud.--Bennett Simon
Notes on Documentation
Preface
Introduction
Background
Freud's cardiac episode: the battle against nicotine addiction
The friendship with Fliess: early phase
Self-analysis
Dreams & death
Death of a friendship
"The revenants": the acropolis episode
Immortality
Disciples & friends--revival of old conflicts
The theme of death elaborated in three works
World War I
Beyond the pleasure principle: the death instinct & the repetition compulsion
1923--the cancer surgery
Death as a metapsychological problem
Adjustment to pain & illness
Freud enters the biblical age
The future without illusions
Freud becomes my patient
Civilization & its discontents
The vigil for new lesions-the struggle with the prosthesis
The scientific Weltanschauung
Hitler Germany & Austrian fascism
Moses & monotheism
Freud's eightieth birthday
Cancer strikes again
The Nazi invasion, exodus
The last chapter
Notes on Unpublished Material
References
Name Index
Subject Index

Genres: Biography

600 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography of Sigmund Freud written by his personal physician, the fellow who helped Freud escape to England and finally administered the lethal dose of morphine at his colleague's request. Although primarily a medical doctor, Schur also contributed articles on psychoanalytic subjects to professional publications.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant and intimate look into the life of Freud from the perspective of his physician. This is a must read of anyone seriously interested in the man behind the birth of modern psychology.