Otto Rank Book order

Otto Rank, Sigmund Freud’s closest colleague in Vienna during the formative years of psychoanalysis, published the essay ‘A Dream That Interprets Itself’ in 1910. It was praised highly by Freud, and the seminal essay now appears for the first time in English with an expertly crafted introduction from Robert Kramer about Rank and his work.

Otto Rank's seminal work explores psychoanalytical interpretations of mythological figures like Oedipus, Moses, and Sargon, linking these myths to common dreams that symbolize repressed desires. First published in 1909 and expanded in a later edition, Rank's analysis integrates new findings in psychoanalysis, mythology, and ethnology, deepening the understanding of the human psyche through these ancient narratives.

This study explores the Don Juan legend through a psychoanalytic lens, providing a rich interpretation of its enduring themes in Western culture. Drawing from literature, history, and anthropology, it delves into the psychological mechanisms at play within the characters and their audience. Originally published in 1924, this work offers valuable insights into the author's thoughts just before his split with Freud. The book is now available in English for the first time, making it a significant addition to the discourse on this iconic figure.

Groundbreaking in its application of psychoanalytic methods to mythology, this monograph explores hero birth narratives across various cultures, including Greek, Roman, Judeo-Christian, Indian, and Germanic legends. Otto Rank, an influential figure in psychology and a contemporary of Freud, employs classic Freudian concepts to analyze these stories. The book's middle section, rich with diverse and sometimes obscure sources, serves as a valuable resource for modern readers. Its impact on later writers, notably Joseph Campbell, underscores its significance in the study of mythology.

2010 Reprint of 1952 Edition. First published in 1924, Otto Rank's The Trauma of Birth took as its starting point a note that Freud added to his The Interpretation of Dreams: "Moreover, the act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety." Rank set out to identify "the ultimate biological basis of the psychical," the very "nucleus of the unconscious" (p. xxiii). For him this was the physical event of birth, whereby the infant passes from a state of perfectly contented union with the mother to a state of parlous separation via an oppressive experience of asphyxiation, constriction, confinement in the vaginal canal, and so on-all feelings recognizable in anxiety states of every kind. It was the struggle against this traumatic experience of birth, in Rank's account, that structured the fantasy life of the child, including the disavowal of the difference between the sexes, infantile sexual theories, and oedipal scenarios. Castration anxiety was a defensive derivative of the anxiety associated with the birth trauma.

Exploring the historical and theoretical foundations of psychoanalysis, Otto Rank discusses its origins with Sigmund Freud and examines key concepts like the unconscious mind and repression. He addresses criticisms regarding scientific rigor and the emphasis on sexuality. In the second part, Rank highlights psychoanalysis's practical applications in treating various mental disorders, including hysteria and schizophrenia, while also considering its impact on personality development and social relationships. This work is significant for its comprehensive approach to psychoanalysis in mental sciences.

The book is a facsimile reprint of an original antiquarian work, highlighting its cultural significance. While it may feature imperfections like marks and notations due to its age, it serves as a valuable resource for preserving and promoting literature. This edition aims to provide readers with an authentic experience of the original text, ensuring accessibility in a modern format.

Focusing on the significance of psychoanalysis, this early 20th-century work delves into topics such as paranoia and psychiatry, exploring foundational theories in the field. Originally published in 1916, it is now a rare find, with many copies being expensive and hard to locate. The republished edition aims to make these classic texts accessible again, maintaining the original content and artwork for readers interested in the historical context of psychoanalysis.

THE prominent civilized nations--the Babylonians and Egyptians, the Hebrews and Hindus, the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans, as well as the Teutons and others--all began at an early stage to glorify their national heroes--mythical princes and kings, founders of religions, dynasties, empires, or cities--in a number of poetic tales and legends. The history of the birth and of the early life of these personalities came to be especially invested with fantastic features, which in different nations--even though widely separated by space and entirely independent of each other--present a baffling similarity or, in part, a literal correspondence. Many investigators have long been impressed with this fact, and one of the chief problems of mythological research still consists in the elucidation of the reason for the extensive analogies in the fundamental outlines of mythical tales, which are rendered still more puzzling by the unanimity in certain details and their reappearance in most of the mythical groupings.