Warren S. Poland, M.D., has practiced clinical psychoanalysis for over half a century. His observations and reflections, including in his early book Melting the Darkness: The Dyad and Principles of Clinical Technique, were honored by his receipt of the Sigourney Award in 2009. In personal essays, in considerations of literary works, and centrally in his clinical psychoanalytic studies, he explores the paradoxical simultaneity of intersubjectivity and individuality. He is also the former editor of the JAPA Review of Books.

PREFACE ¿ NANCY CHODOROW

INTRODUCTION ¿ A FREEDOM OF MIND: WARREN POLAND IN WORD AND DEED ¿ WILLIAM CORNELL

PART I: OPENING CONCLUSIONS

1) REGARDING THE OTHER

2) RATHER MY OWN SHORTCOMINGS

PART II THE PSYCHOANALYTIC SITUATION

3) THE ANALYST¿S WITNESSING AND OTHERNESS

4) OUTSIDERNESS IN HUMAN NATURE

5) THE INTERPRETIVE ATTITUDE

6) THE ANALYST¿S APPROACH AND THE PATIENT¿S PSYCHIC GROWTH

7) THE ANALYST¿S FEARS

PART III: CHALLENGES WITHIN THE PSYCHOANALYTIC PROCESS

8) PROBLEMS IN PLURALISM: NARCISSISM AND CURIOSITY

9) ON IMMEDIACY: "VIVID CONTRAST BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT"

10) THE LIMITS OF EMPATHY

11) BEYOND BEDROCK: THE TRAP OF ABANDONING PSYCHOLOGY

12) OEDIPAL COMPLEXES, OEDIPAL SCHEMA

PART IV: BEYOND THE CLINICAL SETTING

13) READING FICTION AND THE PSYCHOANALYTIC EXPERIENCE: PROUST ON READING and ON READING PROUST

14) PSYCHOANALYSIS AND CULTURE

15) THE MIND BEYOND CONFLICT: WHIMSY 16) PATHOLOGIZING MENTAL PROCESSES: WHIMSY

PART V: ENDINGS IN POETRY, PSYCHOANALYSIS, AND LIFE

17) WHAT PLAY DID SHAKESPEARE WRITE WHEN HE WROTE TWELFTH NIGHT?

18) POLYMORPHOUSLY NORMAL SEXUALITY

19) EPHEMERA: UNFINISHED THOUGHTS ON PSYCHOANALYSIS, POETRY, ENDINGS, AND DEATH

20) SLOUCHING TOWARDS MORTALITY: THOUGHTS ON TIME AND DEATH