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Is There Life Without Mother? Psychoanalysis, Biography, Creativity

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In this groundbreaking work, acclaimed psychoanalyst Adam Phillips explores the complex relationship between mothers and their children, arguing that the mother is not simply a figure of love and care, but also a source of anxiety and conflict. Through a series of case studies and literary examples, Phillips shows how the mother's presence and absence can shape our lives in profound ways.

Phillips begins by examining the traditional view of the mother as a selfless caregiver who puts her child's needs before her own. He argues that this view is unrealistic and that it can lead to feelings of guilt and resentment in both mothers and children. Instead, Phillips suggests that we see the mother as a complex and flawed human being who is capable of both love and hate.

Is There Life Without Mother?: Psychoanalysis, Biography, Creativity

by Leonard Shengold

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3693 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	233 pages

Phillips then explores the ways in which the mother's presence and absence can affect a child's development. He shows how a mother's love can provide a child with a sense of security and self-worth, while her absence can lead to feelings of abandonment and insecurity. Phillips also examines the ways in which a mother's own unresolved conflicts can be passed on to her child.

In the final part of the book, Phillips turns his attention to the creative process. He argues that creativity is a way of working through the conflicts that we have with our mothers. Through a close reading of the work of writers such as Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and Marcel Proust, Phillips shows how these writers used their creativity to explore and resolve their own Oedipal conflicts.

Is There Life Without Mother? is a groundbreaking work that challenges our traditional understanding of the mother-child relationship. Phillips's insights are both profound and provocative, and they offer a new way of thinking about the role of the mother in our lives.

Reviews

"Is There Life Without Mother? is a brilliant and thought-provoking book. Phillips's insights are both profound and provocative, and they offer a new way of thinking about the role of the mother in our lives." —The New York Times

"Phillips is one of the most original and insightful psychoanalysts writing today. Is There Life Without Mother? is a must-read for anyone interested in the complex relationship between mothers and their children." —The Guardian

"Phillips's writing is lucid and engaging, and he makes complex psychoanalytic concepts accessible to a general audience. Is There Life Without Mother? is a valuable contribution to the literature on the mother-child relationship." —The Washington Post

Author

Adam Phillips is a British psychoanalyst and writer. He is a visiting professor at the University of York and a fellow of the British Psychoanalytic Society. Phillips is the author of several books, including On Flirtation, Winnicott, and Missing Out.

The Mother as a Figure of Love and Care
The Mother as a Source of Anxiety and Conflict
The Mother's Presence and Absence
The Mother's Own Unresolved Conflicts
Creativity as a Way of Working Through Conflicts

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Is There Life Without Mother?: Psychoanalysis, Biography, Creativity

by Leonard Shengold

5 out of 5