Darian Leader Books

There are many footnotes to Freud, but Freud himself is never a mere footnote. What makes him so special? Each of Freud's works should make us ask the question, why did he write this? What footnotes do we need to put Freud in perspective, and to revive the neglected problems of psychoanalytic theory? In Freud's Footnotes, Darian Leader brings to life debates in the history and theory of psychoanalysis, opening up new perspectives on areas that are all too often taken for granted. Leader explores the questions that preoccupied Freud and his followers. He shows how their theories were formed and modified, and situates their contributions in the history of ideas. Contexts and influences, revisions and apparently insignificant details are brought to the foreground in an important study which is characteristically profound, witty and persuasive.

Although the term 'jouissance' is common currency in psychoanalysis today, how much does it really tell us? While often taken to designate a fusion of sexuality, suffering and satisfaction, the term has fallen into a purely descriptive use that closes down more questions than it opens up. Although assumed to explain the coalescence of pleasure and pain, it tends to cover a range of quite different issues that should be distinguished rather than conflated. By returning to some of its sources in Freud and elaborations in Lacan, this essay hopes to stimulate a debate around the relations of pleasure to pain, autoerotism, the links of satisfaction to arousal, the effects of repression, and the place of the body in psychoanalytic theory. Unlike other studies in Lacanian psychoanalysis, it aims to contextualise Lacan's work and encourage dialogue with other analytic traditions.

Honoring the lives and contributions of twenty-three influential poets, W. S. Merwin reflects on their significance and impact in "Lament for the Makers." Each poet, who passed away during Merwin's own poetic journey, is celebrated for their unique artistry and the legacy they left behind. This collection serves as a poignant tribute, intertwining personal memories and the broader significance of their work in the literary landscape.

What happens when we lose someone we love? In this book, an acclaimed psychoanalyst and writer urges us to look beyond the catch-all concept of depression to explore the deeper, unconscious ways in which we respond to the experience of loss. In so doing, we can loosen the grip it may have upon our lives.

What separates the sane from the mad? How hard or easy is it to tell them apart? And what if the difference is really between being mad and going mad? This title is the study of madness, sanity, and everything in between.

'In scary films, people say "I'll be right back," and they're usually wrong. In beds, people say "I'll always love you," or "I'll always be faithful to you", and they're usually wrong too.' A characteristically intriguing and insightful look at love, promises and fidelity by the author of Why do women write more letters than they post? Women very rarely make promises at the start of a love affair. In fact it is men who say 'We'll always be friends' or who swear eternal love. Why is this? Starting with the motif of the promise, by way of the Bronteuml;s, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Daphne du Maurier, Nick Leeson and Elizabeth I, psychoanalyst Darian Leader explores the essential questions: Why do people open their mouths when surprised? Why should men often have a compulsion to count things? Why do so many lovers adopt silly baby talk? And why are self-help manuals always less complicated than video-recorder instructions?

Fifty years ago, the terms mourning and melancholia were part of the psychological lexicon. Today, in a world of rapid diagnoses, quick cures, and big pharmaceutical dollars, the catch-all concept of depression has evolved to take their place. Here, Darian Leader argues that this shift is more than semantic; rather, it speaks to our culture's complicated relationship with loss, suffering, and grief. Part memoir, part cultural analysis, Leader draws on examples from literature, art, cinema, and history, as well as case studies from his work as a psychologist, to explore the unconscious ways our culture responds to the experience of loss, providing an innovative tour of mourning and melancholia and our culture's struggle to understand them.--From publisher description.

What could explain this explosion of bipolarity? Is it a legitimate diagnosis or the result of Big Pharma marketing? Exploring these questions, this title challenges the rise of 'bipolar' as a catch-all solution to complex problems, and argues that we need to rethink the highs and lows of mania and depression.

Exploring the dynamics of sexual desire and gender relations, Darian Leader delves into intriguing questions about communication patterns between men and women. The book examines why women tend to write more letters than they send, offering insights into contemporary relationships and the complexities of emotional expression. Through a psychoanalytic lens, it reveals deeper truths about intimacy and connection in modern society.

Have you ever wondered why we get ill? Can our thoughts and feelings worsen or even cause conditions like heart disease, cancer or asthma? And what can we do about it? This book explores the relationship between what's going on in our heads and what happens in our bodies. It is suitable for those who care about their health and that of others.