Century of Insight: The Twentieth Century Enlightenment of the Mind
Book Details
- Publisher : Routledge
- Published : February 2013
- Cover : Paperback
- Pages : 368
- Category :
Psychoanalysis - Category 2 :
Jung and Analytical Psychology - Catalogue No : 32747
- ISBN 13 : 9781780490755
- ISBN 10 : 1780490755
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This is the story of the discovery of the unconscious mind. Beginning with the ideas of Freud and Jung, it is a journey that describes through case histories, explanation and humour, how successive ideas have created a body of knowledge that the author calls the ‘Psychodynamic Enlightenment’ of the twentieth century. This story unfolds through the eyes and ears of Derry Macdiarmid, an NHS psychiatrist who was also a Jungian analyst. He explains how and why the ideas of these forefathers are the basis of current knowledge. The story includes why we need to hate, and why some even need to kill. Why do others become depressed or starve themselves to death? Derry Macdiarmid uses the experience of his long career in British psychiatric hospitals to describe what happens to us when we become mentally ill. The story is a celebration of the human spirit and its will to survive against all odds. As Sue Macdiarmid notes in her moving Foreword to this book, the author sees the ultimate purpose of understanding the unconscious as “to enable us to find our capacity to love. As he says, when we love well, we live well.” A startling conclusion offers insights as to how we can live well, and discover our own meaning for life. Prepare to laugh and to be shocked.
www.centuryofinsight.com
Reviews and Endorsements
You ought to be able to imagine anything, and to confront anything you imagine.
Love is insatiably greedy as well as generous ...
When we shrink from becoming what we could be, we build up a debt not only to ourselves, but to others close to us.
- Derry Macdiarmid
‘Thoughtful and profound. An intellectual pleasure to read.’
- Prof. Sir Bernard Crick
‘Striking is the deep and humane understanding of the human condition
that runs through every page.’
- Dr Desmond Biddulph, The Buddhist Society
Century of Insight is the story of the discovery of the unconscious mind, based on the author's teaching of psychotherapy throughout his career. Beginning with the ideas of Freud and Jung, it is a journey that describes, through case histories, explanation and humour, how successive ideas have created a body of knowledge that the author calls the "Psychodynamic Enlightenment" of the 20th century. Whilst essentially it is a story of the 20th century, it includes a backdrop from tribal societies, and also ideas from 19th century Europe, including existentialism.
The ideas of Freud, Jung, and Adler are explained, their points of difference, and then how they disagreed so violently that they had to break with each other. Their individual theories and their personal conflict are understood from the story of their personalities and background. Why could Freud not tolerate the expansive Jung, and why did Jung clash so badly with his 'father'? The unfolding story continues with other major theorists of the 20th century: Anna Freud, Klein, Winnicott, and others. Links are made between ideas, and concepts are explained using case history from the author’s professional practice as a psychiatrist and Jungian psychotherapist.
Subsequently, the author leaves the world of therapy, and invites us to engage head-on with how anxiety can rule us, the value of hate, why we become depressed and how we can use dreams to understand ourselves. Finally, we learn that the Psychodynamic Enlightenment is our personal quest to find our own capacity to love. The author offers some directions about how to love well, ('love is insatiably greedy') which gives the meaning to life.
About the Author(s)
Derry MacDiarmid was born in Scotland in 1928. His early interest in Jung led him into analysis, then medical training before becoming an NHS psychiatrist and finally consultant psychotherapist at Guys Hospital, London. Married with three sons, he lived in Clapham in London, where he also practiced privately as a Jungian analyst for over 25 years. He died in 2006.
Sue Macdiarmid read politics at Manchester University before training as a psychiatric social worker. After a Masters degree and professional qualification at Oxford University, she worked at the York Clinic, Guy’s Hospital, and the Social Services department of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, where she specialized in working with children and families. She married Derry Macdiarmid in 1978 and has kept an interest in mental health issues and in conflict resolution, and has trained as a yoga teacher. She continues to live in London and the Scottish Highlands.
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