The Discovery of the Unconscious - by Henri F Ellenberger (Paperback)

About the Book

"This classic work is a monumental, integrated view of man's search for an understanding of the inner reaches of the mind. In an account that is both exhaustive and exciting, the distinguished psychiat"

Book Synopsis

The definitive history of psychiatry's origins

"A truly great book." --Dr. Jordan Peterson

The Discovery of the Unconscious is a monumental, integrated view of humanity's search for an understanding of the inner reaches of the mind. In an account that is both exhaustive and exciting, distinguished psychiatrist and author Henri Ellenberger demonstrates the long chain of development--through the exorcists, magnetists, and hypnotists--that led to the fruition of dynamic psychiatry in the psychological systems of Pierre Janet, Alfred Adler, Carl Jung, and Sigmund Freud. Drawing on personal interviews and direct recollections of these scientists, Ellenberger's analysis ranges from the late 18th century to the end of the 1940s.

Hailed as a classic when it was originally published in 1970, The Discovery of the Unconscious remains one of the most definitive and thoroughly researched accounts of the early history of psychiatry.

From the Back Cover

This classic work is a monumental, integrated view of man's search for an understanding of the inner reaches of the mind. In an account that is both exhaustive and exciting, the distinguished psychiatrist and author demonstrates the long chain of development that led to the fruition of dynamic psychiatry in the psychological systems of Janet, Freud, Adler, and Jung.

Review Quotes

"A major contribution to the literature of dynamic psychiatry and one that will be a source book and reference volume for many years to come . . . The author's sensitivity to the spirit of different historical periods and his familiarity with the lesser as well as the major figures of each era -- in the domains of arts and letters as well as science and medicine--is unceasingly impressive."

--David Elkind, Contemporary Psychology

"In all respects a masterly work . . . a book whose richness, accuracy, and rigor are allied with an exceptional open-mindedness--containing such a wealth of material that it cannot possibly be summarized and analyzed in the usual way."

--Louis Bouyer

"With admirable scholarship and brilliantly lucid style, Dr. Ellenberger has integrated history, interpretation, opinion, judgement, assessment, and insight."

--Preston K. Munter, M.D.

About the Author

Henri F. Ellenberger (1905-1993) was a French-Canadian psychiatrist and historian of medicine. He is primarily remembered for The Discovery of the Unconscious, his pioneering history of psychiatry, and his collection of essays Beyond the Unconscious. Ellenberger was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Medal of the Beccaria Prize and the Jason A. Hannah Medal of the Royal Society of Canada.