Description
Book SynopsisOffers clinicians a glimpse into the dark corners of psychopathology and the arenas of healthy mental functioning.
Trade ReviewNew Clinical Realms reflects both the depth of [Akhtar's] psychoanalytic knowledge and the expansiveness of his attention. In this instructive, and at times fascinating, collection of essays, Dr. Akhtar has most generously accomplished his task. * The Psychoanalytic Quarterly *
This book guides us into new clinical realms by making evident things we often look at but do not see. The world is scholarly, theoretically rich, and clinically generous. Akhtar's compassionate intelligence provides us with an invaluable opportunity to refine, deepen, expand, and humanize our clinical observation, understanding, and practice. -- Charles Hanly, Toronto
Akhtar takes us along on a fascinating expedition of new and unfamiliar clinical terrain. On this grand tour, we learn about man's problems with himself and others as well as his inner relationship to animals and inanimate objects. Akhtar's rare gift of blending scholarly thinking with poetry, and his original and creative way of explaining the complexities of the human mind, make reading this book a truly worthwhile experience. -- Ilany Kogan, training analyst, Israel Psychoanalytic Society; author of The Struggle Against Mourning
With the intuition of a poet and with a scintillating writing style, Salman Akhtar guides us through ordinarily unexplored themes while we gain insights in a most delightful way. All through the text we can hear his poetic voice, which lets us share the joy with which his work has been written. -- Moises Lemlij, Lima
In this book Salman Akhtar explores certain aspects of our relation to the world that are highly significant and yet are often ignored. He writes on the nature of mental pain and, like no other, on forgiveness as a necessary path to psychic growth. In helping to decipher the meanings of apparently unusual but nevertheless important clinical phenomena, his book will be extremely valuable to clinicians. -- Sverre Varvin, Oslo
In this instructive, and...fascinating, collection of essays, Dr. Akhtar has most generously accomplished his task. -- Robert Alan Glick M.D. * The Psychoanalytic Quarterly *
Salman Akhtar is one of the most original and creative voices in psychoanalysis today. Seamlessly weaving scholarship, clinical finesse, and poetry into a fabric of new insights, he discusses a series of neglected but very important phenomena. In each of these areas, Akhtar brings us vivid clinical examples and fresh insights. It doesn't matter whether you read the book from page one to the end, or open it randomly, you will learn from it and enjoy it immensely. -- Arnold Cooper
Salman Akhtar is a brilliant scholar, a superb integrator of ideas, and one of the most original minds in modern psychoanalysis. His insights reach deep and his carefully chosen words resonate with the reader for days and weeks. This is a wonderful book, crammed with wisdom and intellectual virtuosity! -- Peter Fonagy, London
Table of ContentsPart 1 PART I: UNEXPLORED PROBLEMS Chapter 2 Mental Pain Chapter 3 Writer's Block Part 4 PART II: UNRECOGNIZED PERSONALITIES Chapter 5 The Shy Narcissist Chapter 6 The Other Woman Part 7 PART III: UNCELEBRATED PARTNERS Chapter 8 Animals Chapter 9 Things Part 10 PART IV: UNFAMILIAR PROCESSES Chapter 11 From Simplicity through Contradiction to Paradox Chapter 12 From Schisms through Synthesis to Oscillation Part 13 PART V: UNTAPPED POTENTIALS Chapter 14 Mentorship Chapter 15 Forgiveness
