Jeffrey Mehlman Book order (chronological)

In a world where cultured individuals are expected to have read countless significant literary works, what happens in social situations when we encounter books we haven't read? In this witty and provocative exploration, Pierre Bayard, a literature professor and psychoanalyst, asserts that not having read a book doesn't hinder engaging conversations about it. He even suggests that reading the book might sometimes be counterproductive. Drawing on examples from notable authors like Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Montaigne, and Umberto Eco, Bayard categorizes different forms of "non-reading," from unfamiliar titles to forgotten reads, and provides strategies for transforming awkward moments into opportunities for creative dialogue. This practical and humorous guide ultimately serves as a love letter to literature, offering a fresh perspective on how we engage with books. It's an enjoyable read for book lovers, encouraging reflection and debate, and perhaps even inspiring readers to delve into the texts discussed. Bayard is a professor at the University of Paris VIII, while Jeffrey Mehlman, who translated this work, is a professor at Boston University and has authored several books.

Exploring the "Blanchot affair," Jeffrey Mehlman reveals the complex past of a key figure in French thought who was linked to fascism in the 1930s. This investigation delves into the ideological implications of literary works, offering fresh insights into the intersection of psychoanalysis and literature. The book serves as a thought-provoking examination of literature, ethics, and the French experience during World War II, challenging readers to reconsider the moral responsibilities of writers and their legacies.

"Roudinesco provides a finely drawn map of the intellectual debates within French psychoanalysis, especially under the influence of the German emigrés during the 1930s and 1940s. She is a good historian, in that she provides not only a narrative history but also extensive passages from Lacan's own oral-history interviews with the various figures, so that we have not only her commentary but some flavor of the original documentation. Many of the quotes are gems."—Sander I. Gilman, Bulletin of the History of Medicine