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Coffee with Freud

Author(s) : Brett Kahr, Illustrator : Alison Bechdel

Reviews and Endorsements

‘Brett Kahr has been teaching the works of Freud since 1979. In this fascinating book he presents his “posthumous interview” with Freud from their “get-togethers” at Vienna’s legendary Café Landtmann. When I was the Fulbright-Freud Visiting Scholar of Psychoanalysis in 2006, I had my office at 19 Berggasse and enjoyed drinking coffee at Café Landtmann where I also “talked” with Freud, but not in such a balanced and layered way. Reading Kahr’s book made me envious of the author, who has found a creative method of introducing the great professor both as the father of psychoanalysis and as a private man.’
- Professor Vamik Volkan, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, and Senior Erik Erikson Scholar at the Austen Riggs Center

‘Brett Kahr is one of the best historians of psychoanalysis writing today, and able to deal with the most difficult topics authoritatively and wittily, and with so light a touch that they become accessible to all. The twelve imaginary dialogues that make up this book pay particular attention to Freud’s early professional struggles and to the ways in which these shaped both his own life and the lives of countless analysts and patients in the decades that followed. The result is a wonderfully human and highly original picture of a brilliant man and his ideas.’
- Dr Neil Vickers, Reader in English Literature and Director of the Centre for the Humanities and Health at King’s College London, University of London

‘As a mental health professional, and as the granddaughter of Freud’s pupil Dr Franz Alexander, I found this book pure joy. Coffee with Freud is an absolute page-turner that benefits from beautiful descriptive language, secrets revealed, and great humour. Freud really comes to life in this conversation that is witty, personal, compelling, and insightful. An ingenious means to travel through time to meet the father of psychoanalysis.”
- Ilonka Venier Alexander, author of The Life and Times of Franz Alexander: From Budapest to California and co-editor of Love and Survival in Budapest: The Memoir of Artur Renyi

‘“Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar,” said Freud. But do you realise that Freud never actually spoke these words? This is just one fascinating snippet revealed by this amazing volume. And sometimes a book is just a book – but not this one. This is pure genius. The dialogue reveals a dazzling knowledge of Freud’s life and milieu. Coffee with Freud is an exquisite gift to those seeking insight into one of the most influential minds of the last three centuries.’
- Professor John Nuttall, Professor of Integrative Psychotherapy, Assistant Dean, and Head of the School of Psychotherapy and Psychology, Regent’s University London

‘Brett Kahr has created a whole new category of psychoanalytic communication. Eminently readable, accurate, full of great illustrations… and fun! Long may the series flourish.’
- Dr Anton Obholzer, Emeritus Consultant and formerly Chairman of the Tavistock Clinic and Chief Executive of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in London, and Senior Consultant, Tavistock Consultancy Service