The Abandoned Child Within: On Losing and Regaining Self-Worth

by Kathrin Asper

Book by Asper, Kathrin

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Psychoanalysis

380 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read to every therapist in any paradigm although it is written from the Jungian perspective. First of all, it has a profound input in clearing out the concept of narcissism and rehabilitating it from stereotypes and confusion. In this age of loads of pop psychology easy to read superficial texts this classical one is the thing we need.
Asper’s tone in writing is very sensitive, but firm, so very “motherly”. And what she basically says - this tone is the key in therapy with any person having a narcissistic wound. What is very important - the book encompasses every aspect of narcissism: emergence, development, occurrence in personality (including shadow aspects), therapy/ healing. The narrative is clearly illustrated with colorful case examples, fairy tales, and myths.
It took me time to finish this book. I started it several times but stopped so had to re-read the beginning not once, and every time it was insightful. You cannot swallow it, you have to taste it little by little with stops and long rumination what you’ve just read.
I cannot recommend it enough.