The following list represents a selection of some of his most famous and influential books. If you are interested in learning more about Freud and his theories, considering reading a few of his original writings to get a better grasp of Freudian theory directly from the original source. There are many textbooks that summarize his ideas, but sometimes nothing beats consulting the original writings to gain greater insights and perspectives on his many ideas. The book lays out Freud’s theory that dreams represent unconscious wishes disguised by symbolism. If you’re interested in learning more about Freud’s approach to dreams and the unconscious mind, this book is a must-read. The book takes a closer look at a number of deviations that occur during everyday life, including forgetting names, slips of the tongue (aka Freudian slips), and errors in speech and concealed memories. He then analyzes the underlying psychopathology that he believed led to such errors. The preface, written by G. Stanley Hall, explains, “These twenty-eight lectures to laymen are elementary and almost conversational. Freud sets forth with a frankness almost startling the difficulties and limitations of psychoanalysis, and also describes its main methods and results as only a master and originator of a new school of thought can do.” He describes his own ideas about the origins and development of religion, and suggests that religion is an illusion made up of “…certain dogmas, assertions about facts and conditions of external and internal reality which tell one something that one has not oneself discovered, and which claim that one should give them credence.” According to Freud, many of our most basic desires are at odds with what is best for society, which is why laws prohibiting certain actions are created. The result, he argues, is an ongoing feeling of discontentment among the citizens of that civilization. If you are interested in taking a closer look at Freud’s work, exploring some of his many books can provide a great deal of insight into the ideas that fueled the rise of psychoanalysis.
