Acts of Will

by E. James Lieberman

Once Freud's most favored student and closest associate, Otto Rank came to be reviled by the psychoanalytic establishment that formerly revered him. This first complete biography exposes the hostile, at times even libelous treatment of Rank in the standard histories of psychoanalysis and shows him to be one of the great analytic pioneers of this century. Indeed, his influence was felt not only by mental health professionals but also by such artists and writers as Anais Nin, Henry Miller, Paul Goodman, and Max Lerner.

Genres: Biography, Psychology

536 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1985

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting life of Freud's disciple who went on to make his own career and promote his own post-Freudian approach to psychology. Apparently, volumes of letters and writings from these early pioneers remains untranslated and ripe for publication. From what is out there, it appears they were backbiting neurotics. I am came away seeing Freud's sterile approach with the patient a couch away being guided to confess some buried problem as ripe for reformation. Rank's reformation was to see neuroses as blocked channels of creativity and validity in this patient's emotions. He also favored short-term, time-limited treatments. It was interesting to read of Anaïs Nin becoming not only a lover but a lay psychiatrist, an avocation Henry Miller also briefly took up in that lovers' triangle.

For Rank, as I understand it, "will" is what confronts instinct and what engenders creativity. Neuroses are blocked urges toward creativity. Thus, unlike with Freudianism, there is not so much a vile secret problem to unearth from the psyche but wondrous creativity to unleash.

[Majed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read about 35% coud not finish it
I did not like it

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read on a very unique and great individual.

[Iskender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unavoidable being the only biography of Rank; but a poor performance.