A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud

Description

A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis is a book by Sigmund Freud, first published in 1917, translated into English by G. Stanley Hall. Originally delivered as a series of public lectures in Vienna, the work was intended to introduce the general public to the key concepts of psychoanalytic theory. Freud covers foundational topics such as the interpretation of dreams, the workings of the unconscious mind, the development of neuroses, and the mechanisms of repression. With clarity and confidence, he guides the reader through the inner architecture of the psyche, weaving together clinical observation, theory, and case examples. This text played a vital role in broadening public understanding of psychoanalysis beyond the medical and academic communities. It represents an accessible entry point into Freud’s ideas at a time when his theories were still widely debated and often misunderstood. While some of his concepts have since been challenged or revised, the influence of this work endures, having helped shape 20th-century thought on identity, memory, sexuality, and mental health. Its importance lies not only in its historical context but in how it marked a shift in thinking about human behavior—from the purely rational to the deeply unconscious.

This book is available for free download in PDF, EPUB, and Kindle formats. Or you can read it online. No registration is required. Just click the links below the donation buttons.