The Forgotten Language: An Introduction to the Understanding of Dreams, Fairy Tales and Myths

Renowned psychoanalyst Erich Fromm investigates the universal language of symbols, expressed through dream and myths, and how it illuminates our humanity. In this study, Erich Fromm opens up the world of symbolic language, "the one foreign language that each of us must learn." Understanding symbols, he posits, helps us reach the hidden layers of our individual personalities, as well as connect with our common human experiences. By grasping the symbolic language of dreams, Fromm explains, we can then also understand the deeper wisdom of myths, art, and literature. This also gives us access to what we, and our society, usually repress. Fromm shares the history of dream interpretations, and demonstrates his analysis of many types of dreams. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author's estate. … (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Audacity88

Fromm says dreams are meaningful; they certainly are, and if anyone doubts it, you should read Fromm's argument. But given that they are meaningful, is Fromm right that they require a special language to interpret? From my own experience with keeping a dream diary, I think the most important thing

with dreams is simply to remember them and write them down. Once you begin to do so you will find meaning in them, without the need for any special symbolic analysis.

Show Less

3 more

LibraryThing member malrubius

The stuff about dreams is good, especially the examples. There is a little too much about the Oedipus trilogy. Would have wanted to more dream analysis.

LibraryThing member blake.rosser

His discussion of matriarchal vs. patriarchal societies in Oresteia and the Oedipus trilogies is worth the price of admission. Did you know that Freud was full of sh*t, and that incest has nothing to do with the Oedipus complex?

LibraryThing member JNagarya

Better than the fact that Fromm appears mostly to be read by those who read to believe what they read. Whether dreams have meaning is arguable; the symbols in them would be the locus of the meaning, though their meanings wouldn't necessarily be objective and universal: they are personal.

Freud was

human and imperfect, but was not wrong in everything. In fact, Fromm was a "Marxist-Freudian," so didn't entirely dismiss him.

Show Less

Fewer