Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic ThoughtMay 10, 2016 by Stephen A. Mitchell and Margaret J. Black Paperback (Basic Books)

MItchell and Black have written a very readable and comprehensive book on Freud's theories and those of many of his acolytes. However, they overlook David Rapaport's important, but little known article on "Activity & Passivity of the Ego With Regards to Reality." In this work, Rapaport explores what Freud really meant by Hypercathexis, which is a release of energy through, for instance, simple self-expression. However, as Rapaport suggests, Hypercathexis can be released not only actively, but also passively, such as in the act of learning. What I did in my book Where Does Mind End? is explore in depth, Freud's psychoanalytic theory taking this information into account. This allowed me to expand greatly on Freud's psychoanalytic model to explain the precise mechanics of defense mechanisms, symbolic behavior, the role of dreams and the route libido takes if wrongly expressed, while also constructing a model of mind that explains the potential cause of psychosomatic illness and also a way to extend one's life by fully understanding the concept of hypercathexis, and in Freud's term, sublimation.

The book also explores a psychoanalytic model for the cause of autism (when it is caused that way!) and it's cure, as well as discuss why Freud split with Wilhelm Reich and why he also split with Carl Jung. And the book ends with an in-depth discussion of the teachings of Gurdjieff, whose work really can be seen as an extension or expansion of Freud's psychoanalytic model. The point I am making is that if one wants to truly go beyond Freud, then it is important to integrate Rapaport's insightful work as well as the work of Gurdjieff, who, like Freud, sees man as basically an unconscious being, but unlike Freud, proposes very practical solutions to waking up. A complete model of mind should lead one to higher states of consciousness. Freud's work provides a first step, but to go "Beyond" it is now time for Gurdjieff to gain his proper place in mainstream psychology.

Overall, I highly recommend Mitchell and Black's book, but I am also suggesting if the reader truly wants to go "beyond" Freud, then consider [...].