In 1877, a young Sigmund Freud met an established physician
named Josef Breuer and they began a collaboration that would
lead to the publication of the classic work Studies on Hysteria.
Freud subsequently minimized Breuer's contributions, betraying
his former mentor and benefactor. Psychologist Louis Breger
reveals the story behind the creation of Studies as well as the
case of Anna O., which helped contribute to Freud's definition
of "neurosis," showing how Freud's own self-mythologizing and
history not only affected everything he did in life, but also
helped shape his emerging beliefs about psychoanalysis. "A
probing, elegant and balanced book. Louis Breger shows how
Freud's traumatic childhood shaped his ambitious, detached and
authoritarian personality, and led to the betrayal of his
mentor, Josef Breuer. Breger's analysis exposes a fascinating
paradox: Freud both invented psychoanalysis and impoverished its
development. A must-read for everyone interested in how ideas
can change the world."—Brenda Webste