Title: Civilization and its Discontents: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader
Author: Sigmund Freud, Translated by James Harris
Narrator: Kevin Ivie
Summary
Civilization and Its Discontents is a book by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. It was written in 1929 and explores what Freud sees as the important clash between the desire for individuality and the expectations of society, the book is considered one of Freud’s most important and widely read works, and one of the most influential and studied books in the field of modern psychology. This book has been carefully adapted in to a modern format to allow for easy listening.
My Review
5/5 Stars
Freud has made a lot of observations about the world that are mind blowing, but listening through this piece takes that a step farther. What is it about society that causes people to be discontent? It’s a simple but interesting question. While society may have made life easier for us as a whole, it has made it harder as an individual.
Freud lists the ideas that to cope with this an individual can become a recluse or they can try to help fellow man. Either option poses its own psychological effects to the individual.
Throughout his musings, Freud poses another interesting question: who’s to say that modern man is happier now than men in previous societies? To Freud, the way that happiness is created is through a stark contrast of needs being met after being neglected for so long. Under this idea, it goes to reason that if a person has no needs to meet, then happiness will be something that they do not understand.
Although short, this audiobook definitely gives you a lot to think about when it comes to society and why there are many people who still turn to activity such as rape and murder.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Author Kayla Krantz 