A kafkaesque memoir

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A Kafkaesque Memoir presents a unique patient’s perspective on the full journey of psychoanalysis, chronicling a literature professor's transformation over nine years. Initially seeking a quick hypnotherapy solution for a driving phobia, he embarks on an in-depth Jungian analysis that reveals the roots of his profound guilt tied to an “abandoned child.” This psychological narrative unfolds against a backdrop of cultural themes that have shaped his worldview, including the parables of Kafka, Zen Buddhism, French deconstruction, and the origins of psychoanalysis in German culture. Kafka's enigmatic writings serve as a fictive code for the professor to explore his inner conflicts. Each chapter begins with a report of a significant dream, sparking often intense dialogues with his analyst. The memoir captures the evolution of their relationship, moving from defensive posturing to mutual understanding. Additionally, it paints a vivid social landscape of the era, featuring encounters with the mafia in Brooklyn, a party crash in 70s Harlem, and experiences in the mid-70s Los Angeles counterculture. This tale intertwines personal struggle, the dynamics of analysis, and the contemporary culture wars, reflecting a man's late-life quest for healing and self-discovery.