He was the rising star of psychoanalysis – an intimate associate of Anna Freud and Kurt Eissler, a member of the Freudian "inner circle" with unparalleled access to the Freud Archives. Then, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson risked everything by breaking the psychoanalytic community's deepest taboo: he told the truth in public.
In Final Analysis, Masson unmasks the pretensions and abuses of this elite profession, inviting readers to eavesdrop on the shockingly unorthodox analysis he endured during his own training. Witness his journey from esteemed insider to profound doubter, questioning not only the integrity of his colleagues but the very validity of their methods.
Ultimately, Masson blew the whistle, fully aware of the devastating personal and professional consequences. With wit, wonder, and unflinching candor, he brilliantly exposes the cult-like nature of psychoanalysis and recounts his own self-propelled fall from grace.
A sensation when it first appeared, Final Analysis remains a provocative and engrossing read. Written with passion and humor, this is the book that revealed a revered profession for what it truly was – and launched Masson on his path as a crucial critic and independent thinker.
