Routledge Coffee with Freud (The Interviews with Icons Series)

This is the second volume in Brett Kahr's 'Interviews with Icons' series, following on from Tea with Winnicott. Professor Kahr, himself a highly regarded psychoanalyst, turns his attention to the work of the father of psychoanalysis. The book is lavishly illustrated by Alison Bechdel, winner of the MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' Award.Sigmund Freud pays another visit to Vienna's renowned Cafe Landtmann, where he had often enjoyed reading newspapers and sipping coffee. Freud explains how he came to invent psychoanalysis, speaks bluntly about his feelings of betrayal by Carl Gustav Jung, recounts his flight from the Nazis, and so much more, all the while explaining his theories of symptom formation and psychosexuality.Framed as a 'posthumous interview', the book serves as the perfect introduction to the work of Freud while examining the context in which he lived and worked. Kahr examines his legacy and considers what Freud has to teach us. In a world where manifestations of sexuality and issues of the mind are ever more widely discussed, the work of Sigmund Freud is more relevant than ever. Review "'Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, ' said Freud. But do you realise that Freud never actually spoke these words? This is just one fascinating snippet revealed by this amazing volume. And sometimes a book is just a book - but not this one. This is pure genius. The dialogue reveals a dazzling knowledge of Freud's life and milieu. Coffee with Freud is an exquisite gift to those seeking insight into one of the most influential minds of the last three centuries."-- (02/17/2017) "As a mental health professional, and as the granddaughter of Freud's pupil Dr Franz Alexander, I found this book pure joy. Coffee with Freud is an absolute page-turner that benefits from beautiful descriptive language, secrets revealed, and great humour. Freud really comes to life in this conversation that is witty, personal, compelling, and insightful. An ingenious means to travel through time to meet the father of psychoanalysis."-- (02/17/2017) "Brett Kahr has been teaching the works of Freud since 1979. In this fascinating book he presents his 'posthumous interview' with Freud from their 'get-togethers' at Vienna's legendary Café Landtmann. When I was the Fulbright-Freud Visiting Scholar of Psychoanalysis in 2006, I had my office at 19 Berggasse and enjoyed drinking coffee at Café Landtmann where I also "talked" with Freud, but not in such a balanced and layered way. Reading Kahr's book made me envious of the author, who has found a creative method of introducing the great professor both as the father of psychoanalysis and as a private man."-- (02/17/2017) "Brett Kahr has created a whole new category of psychoanalytic communication. Eminently readable, accurate, full of great illustrations... and fun! Long may the series flourish."-- (02/17/2017) "Brett Kahr is one of the best historians of psychoanalysis writing today, and able to deal with the most difficult topics authoritatively and wittily, and with so light a touch that they become accessible to all. The twelve imaginary dialogues that make up this book pay particular attention to Freud's professional struggles and to the ways in which these shaped both his own life and the lives of countless analysts and patients in the decades that followed. The result is a wonderfully human and highly original picture of a brilliant man and his ideas."-- (02/17/2017) About the Author Brett Kahr