The 18 best Psychoanalysis books

The psychoanalysis and the freudian theories they are one of the aspects of the history of psychology that generate the most interest. However, psychoanalytic theory and practice are based on a sea of ​​concepts that are not especially easy to understand, which makes students and the curious who want to start through psychoanalysis books have it complicated.

This selection with recommended books on psychoanalysis wants to be a help for these people who hesitate among the large number of pages that have been written on the subject. At the beginning, psychoanalysis books are presented in Spanish, and at the end of the article there is an extension with readings in English.

Psychoanalysis books in Spanish

If what you are looking for is to be able to read books on psychoanalysis in Spanish, this selection will be useful. Here you will find a selection of works to get you started on the subject.

1. "Introduction to Psychoanalysis", by Sigmund Freud

A work that is among the books of Sigmund Freud more important and that has a special value, offering us a vision about the way in which the father of the psychodynamic current understood psychoanalysis. Its pages offer explanations about the Freudian conception of mental disorders, the unconscious and the way in which it manifests itself.

• To learn more about this book, do click here.

2. "Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession", by Janet Malcolm

This is one of the psychoanalytic books that present this discipline in a more original way. Rather than simply reviewing Freud's legacy in an academic or encyclopedic tone, This work focuses on the work of a psychoanalyst and the way in which dialogue with him allows us to learn about his life, training and the connection between what he does and the history of psychoanalysis.

• If you are interested in reading more about the book, you can access this page.

3. "The Interpretation of Dreams", by Sigmund Freud

One of the oldest psychoanalytic books written in the decade Sigmund Freud finished to develop theoretically his first ideas about the unconscious and its role in the psychopathology.

The father of psychoanalysis believed that elements belonging to our unconscious They are revealed in our dreams, yes, disguised through a special symbolism. That is why he believed that interpreting these dreams was one of the pillars on which therapy could be based, since in this way traumas and emotional blocks based on past experiences could be intuited.

• To know more about the book, click here.

4. "The I and the Id", by Sigmund Freud

This is one of the most important books on psychoanalysis, since it explains the ego structures: the id, the ego and the superego. For Freud, each of these psychic instances had a role in the moral dimension of our actions and thoughts and served to explain what defense mechanisms are for and what causes frustration and repression.

• Here you can read more about the book.

5. "The Black Book of Psychoanalysis", by Catherine Meyer

Essential reading to know the criticisms of psychoanalysis and its status in relation to science as it is understood today. People who have little knowledge about psychoanalysis will understand what its limitations are from the perspective post-positivist, and those who are more versed in the subject will reflect on the things they had learned before.

• You can buy it through this link.

6. "The malaise in culture", by Sigmund Freud

Another of Freud's most important books on psychoanalysis. In its pages it is explained the way in which the impulses of the individual rub against the external pressures coming from the culture according to the Freudian vision.

• You can buy it clicking here.

7. "Theory and Technique of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy", by J. Coderch

Anyone who wants to know the practical proposals that have been made from psychoanalysis will find in this work a very complete book. Here the elements that relate to each other all the techniques promoted by psychoanalysts are explained..

• do click here to get it.

8. "Beyond the Pleasure Principle", by Sigmund Freud

In this book, Freud develops the concepts of life drives and death drives, and an explanation of repetitive and stereotyped behaviors.

• If you are interested, you can start your purchase here.

9. "Psychoanalysis within everyone's reach", by Antoni Talarn

A relatively short and extremely accessible book on psychoanalysis and the social impact it has had and continues to have. Very useful also to identify false clichés about psychoanalysis.

• You can find more information about the book by clicking here.

10. "Three Essays on Sex Theory", by Sigmund Freud

The sexual dimension plays a very important role in Freud's ideas, and this book is a very good way to access his ideas on the subject. The theory of psychosexual development is outlined between its pages.

• You can read more about this work here.

More psychoanalysis books to keep learning

If languages ​​are not an issue for you, here are some of the top titles to read about psychoanalysis.

11. "Introduction to Psychoanalysis: contemporary Theory and Practice", by A. Bateman and J. Holmes

One of the best books on psychoanalysis for students. Its relative brevity and the clarity with which the historical path of psychoanalysis is explained by mixing theory with examples make it one of the best options to have a global vision about the theme.

• If you are interested, you can buy here.

12. "Freud and Beyond", by S. TO. Mitchell and M. J. Black

An excellent introductory book to psychoanalytic theory and practice and its historical development after Freud's death. Very suitable to know the way in which psychoanalysis has evolved in the decades after the 1930s.

• You can get more information about the book accessing this page.

13. "Beyond Freud: from Individual to Social Psychology", by Erich Fromm

Erich fromm It was one of the most renowned psychoanalysts with a humanistic approach, and in this work he presents part of the journey that psychoanalysis took from the original ideas of Sigmund Freud to the point where his disciples began to create different schools within the stream of the psychodynamics.

• You can read more about the book here.

14. "The how-to book for Students of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy", by S. Bach

A very short book of psychoanalysis in which the basic concepts are clearly and simply exposed to understand theory and practice.

• You can learn more about this book here.

15. "Working with Resistance", by Martha Stark

One of the best books on psychoanalysis applied to therapeutic processes; it explains complex concepts in a very accessible way, which makes this work a very interesting option for students.

• If you would like to know more about the book, do click here.

16. «Writings», by Jacques Lacan

One of the options for those who want to face a challenge. This referent of the current started with Freud is known for how difficult it is to understand and because, in addition, the way of transmitting his ideas was, basically, through lectures. However, his influence has survived to this day.

17. "A clinical introduction to lacanian psychoanalysis", by Bruce Fink

One of the best support books for understanding Lacan's work, shedding new light on his writings.

• If you are interested, you can find it here.

18. "Studies on hysteria", by Josef Breuer and S. Freud

A work to explore the beginnings of psychoanalysis from one of the people who most influenced Sigmund Freud and the father of psychoanalysis himself.

• You can read more about this work by clicking here.

Bonus: «Psychologically speaking», by Adrián Triglia, Bertrand Regader and Jonathan García-Allen

It is not a book strictly focused on the world of psychoanalysis, but a general tour of all the schools of psychology, with their teachings, theories and concepts. If you want to have a deep look at authors like Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung or Alfred Adler (but at the same time time you want to meet other figures such as Carl Rogers, Wilhelm Wundt or Albert Bandura), this book is for you.

• You can buy it here.