ThelifeandworkofSigmundFreudcontinuetofascinategeneralandprofessionalreadersalike.JoelWhitebookherepresentsthefirstmajorbiographyofFreudsincethelastcentury,takingintoaccountrecentdevelopmentsinpsychoanalytictheoryandpractice,genderstudies,philosophy,culturaltheory,andmore.Offeringaradicallynewportraitofthecreatorofpsychoanalysis,thisbookexploresthemaninallhiscomplexityalongsideaninterpretationofhistheoriesthatcutsthroughthestereotypesthatsurroundhim.ThedevelopmentofFreud’sthinkingisaddressednotonlyinthecontextofhispersonallife,butalsointhatofsocietyandcultureatlarge,whiletheimpactofhisthinkingonsubsequentissuesofpsychoanalysis,philosophy,andsocialtheoryisfullyexamined.WhitebookdemonstratesthatdeclarationsofFreud’sobsolescencearepremature,and,withhisclearandengagingstyle,bringsthisvividfiguretolifeincompellingandreadablefashion.
