One of the essential books on neurotic behavior. Horney is strong in her disagreement with Freud on drive theory but also on genesis. She takes us through how neurotic reactions build on each other disputing the notion that one can find the event in early childhood - like seeing one's mother naked - that is the root cause of all future problems. As she says in her conclusion, neurosis takes on a life of its own and the patient needs to see his or her reactions where ever they appear in the constellation of his personality. She is also particularly strong on idealized image and externalization. However, while she is a lucid writer the book is overly mechanistic. What I wanted more of was the reverbative sequences of reaction or the way someone who is a compliant type might shuffle into aggression or detachment. She suggests these developments but at a level of abstraction that makes it obscure. We need to attach these dynamics to case histories and the stories of flesh and blood humans to make them more effective. From what I understand this is the book where she focuses on in the intrapsychic aspect. I'm a fan of hers and intend to go on to Self Analysis. ( )

Clearly written, carefully observed. ( )