The Wisdom of the Ego

By George E. Vaillant

Book Overview

Something horrible happens, and our minds play tricks on us, tell us that it never happened, that it occurred differently, or isn't quite what it seems. Such trickery, the psychiatrist George Vaillant tells us, is actually healthy. What's more, it can reveal the mind at its most creative and mature, soothing and protecting us in the face of unbearable reality, managing the unmanageable, ordering disorder. In The Wisdom of the Ego, Vaillant gives us a look at how the mind's defences work, how they evolve and change, and so, change us.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067495372X
• ISBN13: 9780674953727
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 394 Pages
• Weight: 1.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

The Wisdom of Vaillant

George Vaillant has put a life time of work into a 375 page book. It allows the reader to delve into the wonders of the psychoanalytical world. With a constant review of three cohorts he goes onto explain and give thorough examples of his theories. Despite the inconsistencies of the book and the constant contradictions, Vaillant is able to prove his point. The human psych is unstable and dependant on a level of maturity and development of the Ego.

Gaining in Wisdom : A Resource for Real Life

Seldom does a book, written by a psychiatrist for scholarly and professional reasons, make so much sense and resonate so deeply. George Vaillant M.D., a brillant mind and a gifted researcher, culls his vast sea of knowledge about the inner workings of the psyche and has shows us therapists and lay people alike how to better understand ours'. Dr.Vaillant writes with wit , warmth and compassion. He makes complex psychoanalytic theories very accessible and relevant to our daily lives.This text is absolutley indispensible for the psychotherapy student, the curious lay reader or the seasoned cliniciain who seeks to deepen and expand his or her understanding of the soul .Having delighted in reading the book when it was first published, I find myself returning to it again and again for its wise and engaging commentary on being human.

An excellent look at a very hackneyed subject

This book is used as a basic text for an Abnormal Psychology class at Harvard. It is an easy read, very interesting and filled with information that makes sense.It takes a very humanizing view to Freud's defenses and shows how that be thought of as good things.