Order to read Freud?

[Atriya]

I am interested in Psychology, but I opt for an orderly read of every book written by Sigmund Freud. Once, I left mid-way while reading 'Interpretation of dreams' due to it basing on Freud's earlier theories. I don't want to stumble with Freud that way - so, could you mention a specific order, which if followed, will provide me with the theories of Freud on dreams, man and Psycho-sexuality?

[Atriya]

Thanks. But why do you say that it shouldn't be read for anything else other than entertainment? Was Freud's analysis for the most part incorrect? And what do you say about Carl Jung because I am trying to look into his works too? And how do you think I should start Jung?

[Empress, Patient Zero]

Atriya wrote: "Thanks. But why do you say that it shouldn't be read for anything else other than entertainment? Was Freud's analysis for the most part incorrect? And what do you say about Carl Jung because I am t..."

Freud is the base for the modern psychology. It is good to read it for reference, but one must remember that things are constantly changing in this field. If you are studying psychology at some point, yes go and read him, but otherwise I wouldn't recommend him for the novice. I personally haven't read him, but I have read about the history and Freud's contribution. I find that more then enough.

I think you should consider what is the area of psychology that interests you and then read some more modern works. Since this is a relatively new science that is still developing, reading old works can be very misleading. Also a lot of the spheres are intertwined and there are fields that haven't really been looked into a decade or more ago.

I have read Interpretation of dreams and a couple of others on the subject. What I have found useful (for myself) I can some up in a couple of sentence.

If you decide to go ahead and read him in order, I'm afraid I can't give advice about that. You can sort his books by popularity or rating.

[Atriya]

Thanks, Ellie. What you said is true, I guess. Can you name some of the modern works that I should be reading? And I am not a psychology student - I am just interested in it and want to explore it.

[Atriya]

Plus, no one is mentioning about Carl Jung? I really want to look into it too. I watched the film - Synecdoche, New York, and there was a hint on Jungian psychology about how a person reacts psychologically in the conquest of finding himself (Look up the film and its interpretations on Wikipedia). That really intrigued me. Can anyone give any further information on his works? All I do know is he was a follower of Freud.

[Atriya]

And if anyone can provide me with some psychological novels, I would appreciate it. For example, Dostoevsky and the like (and I have Dostoevsky, so I lay emphasis on the like part). I love books based on Psychology and Philosophy.

[Empress, Patient Zero]

Hi Atriya.

Well I can advise you what not to start reading (yet), and that is (IMO) self-help books and positive movement books. I personally don't see much psychology in there, though they can be analyzed. I would say go into this field after you are more familiar with psychology.

For what to read the choice is very big. Mostly of what I have read has been on line. I am interested in depression, trauma, emotional disorders, so that is what I was reading. I started reading about depression, then moved to disorders as depression is in many case co-morbid with other conditions. As books I've read mostly memoirs and some psychology books.

So the question is what you are interested in, which side of the psychology. Once you start somewhere you will be able to expand, as it is all interconnected.

Here are 2 lists with popular psychology:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...



For psychological fiction I can recommend the following two books:
Flowers for Algernon
The Speed of Dark


As I haven't read Dostoevsky you may want to request recommendation which you can do trough GR or you can even post here (as this group is not as active)

or check the following lists:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Atriya]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Hi Atriya.

Well I can advise you what not to start reading (yet), and that is (IMO) self-help books and positive movement books. I personally don't see much psychology in there, though they can b..."

The books you recommended 'Flowers for Algernon' and
'The Speed of Dark' - both seems to be dystopian novels. Are you sure that they have moments in them regarding the complications of human behavior (I am not saying they don't have it). But your other lists is good. Bell Jar is sort of a autobiographical novel by Sylvia Plath and her depressive traits, but really I don't think Catcher in The Rye promotes as Psychological fiction rather than not being a Bildungsroman (Coming of age novel). Anyway, thanks a lot.

[Atriya]

Shane wrote: "Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Atriya wrote: "Thanks. But why do you say that it shouldn't be read for anything else other than entertainment? Was Freud's analysis for the most part incorrect? And wha..."

Thanks, I will definitely look into it. It seems to me that you have read Jung. You did give me a name of the book with which I should preferably start. But then, should I read Freud before Jung or vice versa? Are they any way interconnected being of the similar timeline and occupation and either one following the other's work?

[Empress, Patient Zero]

Atriya wrote: "The books you recommended 'Flowers for Algernon' and
'The Speed of Dark' - both seems to be dystopian novels. "

Flowers for Algernon is about an idiot who undergoes a procedure and his IQ starts to rise. This follows social complications and changes in his psych.

The speed of dark has autistic main protagonist.

But if you are not into science fiction I would not recommend them. There is a bigger choice in the lists I gave you with more appropriate books.

I haven't read catcher in the rye, but you can comment on the lists and discus it with the creator. Maybe it really shouldn't be on them.

I think the next psychological fiction I should read should be "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".

[Atriya]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Atriya wrote: "The books you recommended 'Flowers for Algernon' and
'The Speed of Dark' - both seems to be dystopian novels. "

Flowers for Algernon is about an idiot who undergoes a procedure and ..."

It's not that I'm not into science fiction - I just didn't read too much of them. The dystopian novels I did read and loved are 1984, Brave New World, and Alan Moore's V for Vendatta. Those are definitely classics so I should not compare them with the other books. I guess I should experiment with the genre more.
Yeah, I heard about 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest'. Will look into it too. Thanks.

[Atriya]

Shane wrote: "Freud was writing before Jung and is far more sexual.

The two met in March 1906 in Vienna, they fell out 6 years later. From then Jung termed his psychology 'Analytical Psychology' to differentia..."
Ok, I guess I will start with Freud. I researched a bit and found that Jung's works are more vast and scattered, so, I guess it would be wise to start with Freud and then, move on to Jung. Thanks.

[Sarah]

If you want to be well versed in the field of psychology, it is important to be familiar with the ideas and philosophies of Freud and Jung - just remember to take them with a grain of salt! Their ideas are part of our history, but do not represent modern psychology at all.
I am a psychology student, but for light reading I enjoy Oliver Sacks' books. Just finished The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and thoroughly enjoyed it :)

[Atriya]

Sarah wrote: "If you want to be well versed in the field of psychology, it is important to be familiar with the ideas and philosophies of Freud and Jung - just remember to take them with a grain of salt! Their i..."

Being a psychology student, which modern psychologist do you recommend that I should read and follow (non-fiction)?

[Lisa]

I think you were asking about modern thinkers in the field. I recommend Daniel Siegel, Bessel Van der Kolk, and Richard Schwartz for more contemporary thought in the field.

[Sarah]

Atriya wrote: "Sarah wrote: "If you want to be well versed in the field of psychology, it is important to be familiar with the ideas and philosophies of Freud and Jung - just remember to take them with a grain of..."

Depends what you are interested in really, psych is extremely broad and there are SO many subdisciplines which are completely different from one another. I'm majoring in psych and neuroscience so I like to read studies in my field. If you are new to psychology I would honestly start by reading the Wiki page on it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology) - sounds basic but it will give you a really good overview of the different disciplines and you can read more extensively about elements of it that interest you.

I rarely read anything relating to psychology for pleasure, but if you're looking for some interesting stuff to read, Elizabeth Loftus has done some fascinating research on memory and the reliability of witness testimony. It was learning about her research when I was a teenager that really triggered my interest in psychology! :)