Man Against Himself Paperback – September 14, 1956

I’m just reading the last section of this book and it has all been a surprisingly great book. Very deep dive into self-sabotage and suicide, even passive suicide (like fostering an illness or bad habits that harm us over time). As a hypnotherapist, this is a thorough book on understanding ALL the different ways people sabotage themselves. Personally and professionally, it’s a 5+ star. On a side not, it was written long ago so you may find some references and words that are outdated but I don’t mind. Just means it’s not your typical pop psychology book.

I have read this book a number of times over the last couple of years. There is much to contemplate about our inner selves and interactions in the world. This book allows insight into the human soul. Don't read this book if you are looking for the way the brain works or how to understand others through the DSM. Bruno Bettelheim once wrote that Freud was misunderstood because in America the soul has no meaning and that when Freud wrote "human soul" translaters translated it in english to the "mind" or the "brain" because they did not think that americans could understand the concept. This is an essentially Freudian book with a strong sense of humanism. I would also recommend that anyone interested read Bettelheim's "Freud and Man's Soul".

Karl Menninger was a psychiatrist who wrote this book in the 1930's. He goes in depth to explain the many motives and ways people had for committing suicide during his time. He was heavily influenced by Freud. Dr. Menninger is noted for explaining suicide in terms of one of three basic wishes: the wish to kill, the wish to be killed, and the wish to die. He agrees with Freud that humans have a death instinct. He also believes there is a life instinct that has equal and opposite influence over one's free will and that suicide prevails only when the life instinct is sufficiently weakened. He agrees with Freud that humans are all aggressive and have the potential for an early death if that aggression is turned inward in a setting of weakened support (or love.) His thoughts regarding alcoholism have been outdated by more modern scientific research, but they are still interesting. I certainly recommend the book for other psychiatrists, but it can be a source of consolation for anyone who is attempting to understand why someone may have chosen suicide.

Amazing book, just the way old school psychology books used to be. In depth, humorous, thought-provoking. It really makes you think about what motivates you, and others. Are you building up with the energies of eros, or tearing down with the destructive energies of thanatos? This book can make you aware, and aware of the fact that you can have a choice -- if you gain that awareness, and choose to move towards love of all kinds -- for yourself, an artform, a hobby, your family your friends. With this realization, you will never be the same.

It's a psychology class for my library... interesting view from Menninger

I have to order a copy in much larger print. The copy I ordered is in such small print for these (old) eyes that I have had to put it down often, and reluctantly. I am eager to find a copy in large print, or perhaps I will find it on Kindle! What I was able to read was compelling, and I look forward to being able to read it comfortably so I can stay with it!

After twenty pages or so I threw the book away.

I am an avid reader of history and the occasional self help book. That said this was uncharted territory. The only reason I read it was b/c Dale Carnegie makes mention of it in "How to Stop Worrying..."I had no trouble following the ideas and topics whatsoever. I highly recommend it in fact I will find more in this genre to read and perhaps stay w/ Menninger. I found it very insightful.