The Sophon Review of Books
(c) 1999 S. C. Schuster, All rights
reserved.
Most of the reviews in this section have been submitted
for publication to Editor's Choice.
Likewise, most of these books are available through the Sophon-Amazon.com bookstore.
BOOKS ON
PHILOSOPHICAL PRACTICE AND COUNSELING
The Canberra Times
July 8, 2000
Review by Professor George Stern.
PHILOSOPHY PRACTICE: AN ALTERNATIVE TO COUNSELING
AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY
by Shlomit C. Schuster.
Praeger Publishers. 1999
If
Sigmund Freud is the patron saint of psychotherapists, Gerd B.
Achenbach is
that of philosophical counsellors. Achenbach (b. 1947) is a
German philosopher who started "open conversations"
with "visitors" in 1981.
From there, he developed a theory and application
of philosophical practice
that has now spread from Germany to the
Netherlands, Norway, Britain, the US,
Canada, Israel, Australia and other
lands.
In the book under review, Shlomit Schuster traces the roots
of
philosophical practice back to the Pythagoreans and to Socrates. But
the
modern underpinnings of the system belong to such figures as
Jean-Paul
Sartre, Karl Jaspers, Susan Sontag and - my personal favourite -
the
iconoclastic social philosopher Ivan Illich (b. 1926).
All of the
above, Achenbach and Schuster included, are critics of
the
institutionalisation of facets of human nature, notably the
human
psyche. As Schuster writes: "My own experience as a student of ...
a
psychoanalytic variation of occupational therapy was one
of
disappointment with the psychotherapeutic establishment." Dr
Schuster's
independent studies converged with those of Achenbach and
resulted in
the establishment of the non-profit International Society
for
Philosophical Practice and Counseling (ISPP).
Dr Schuster's book
is in two parts. The first (125 pages) deals with the
historical development
of philosophical counselling and its theoretical
framework. The second (60
pages) describes philosophical counselling in
action with nine people (in
pre-Achenbach terminology, "case studies").
The book also contains a
fourteen-page bibliography and an extensive
index.
When I met Dr
Schuster in Israel two years ago, I was impressed by her
calm and accessible
personality. Her book is a perfect reflection of
that personality. Written in
a warm, reflective style, it is both a
reasoned critique of standard
psychotherapeutic methods and a convincing
exposition of philosophical
practice. But beneath the lucid narrative
of the book you also glimpse
profound scholarship and a sharp intellect.
I believe that philosophical
practice is destined to be the new standard
for helping people through their
doubts and crises. I believe equally
that Dr Schuster's book will shine as
the standard work in the field.
For a review of Philosophy Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psychotherapy in Iyyun, The Jerusalem Philosophical Quarterly by Professor Jerome Gellman click here
For quotes from the review of Philosophy Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psychotherapy in The American Journal of Psychiatry, June 2002, by Professor Christoph Mundt click here
For Sebastian Slotte's excellent review of Philosophy Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psychotherapy click here.
For a review in Dutch by Will Gerbers of Philosophy Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psychotherapy published in Filosofie
click here
For reviews in German on Gerd B. Achenbach's books click here
Konzeptionen und
Probleme der Philosophische Praxis
by Michael Zdrenka
Schriftenreihe zur Philosophischen
Praxis Band IV
Jurgen Dinter, Cologne
ISBN 3-924794-37-5
Reviewed by Shlomit Schuster
Michael Zdrenka described in his German mother
language,
in an excelent and comprehensive manner, a diversity of
practices.
Mainly in Germany, but also on an international scale.
He critically questions Dr.
G. B. Achenbach's practice
and compares it with the philosophical practices
of G. Witzany
and S. Schuster.
Of particular interest is the section "Die Stellung zur
Psychotherapie" in
which references to Th. Macho, M. Winkler-Caliminus, A.
Jaklin, A. Hoogendijk
and others show the eminence of the non-therapy
paradigm of the philosophical
practice dialogue.
The book includes an extensive bibliographical listing
of books and
articles by Achenbach and
other practitioners in the German language
domain. Also its listing of practitioners in other European countries and
even other continents makes this book a rich
source for researchers in
philosophical practice.
BOOKS OF DIVERSE INTEREST
Searching for Emma: Gustave Flaubert
and
Madame Bovary
by Dacia Maraini
Translated by Vincent J.
Bertolini
University of Chicago Press, 1998
ISBN: 0-226-50430-1
Reviewed by Shlomit Schuster
Madame Bovary is rejuvenated with new relevance.
Maraini shows
Emma Bovary as a 19th century herald of female
rebellion and liberty.
In spite of Flaubert's conservatism, sexual
repression is exposed as a
source for Emma's depression. Flaubert's words, in
which he identifies
himself with Bovary, are found ambivalent.
This interesting and scholarly analysis shows
Louise Colet's influence
on Flaubert and consequently also on Emma's
character. Maraini's search
in the correspondence of Flaubert and Colet, and
other contextual relevant
writings makes Searching for Emma
a compulsory reading for literary
experts and others a
like.
Imaged-based Research: A
Sourcebook for
Qualitative Researchers
Edited by Jon Prosser
Falmer Press, 1998
ISBN: 0-7507-0649-x
Reviewed by Shlomit Schuster
Prosser assembled a rich diversity of
professional articles to encourage
the use of images in qualitative
research. Much consideration is given to
objections of traditional,
text-oriented qualitative researchers to his
approach. This illustrated book
makes obvious that pictures, films, the internet,
cartoons and symbols do
advance insight and scientific understanding.
Part one explains theoretical and
methodological basics of visual anthropology,
sociology and psychology. Part two and
three contain case studies and
applications to research processes, therapy,
communication and school education.
Deconstructing Psychotherapy
Edited by Ian Parker
Sage Publications, 1999
ISBN: 0-7619-5713-8
Reviewed by Shlomit Schuster
In this fascinating collection anti-psychiatric ideals found the right
linguistic turn for their resuscitation. Parker did an excellent job in
his summary introduction and in bringing together so many different,
truly radical approaches.
Key words to understanding the personal, political, family and
psychology
are the concepts: respectful, critical and dialectical.
Deconstruction as
questioning, and as a process that defies definitions
is a reflective
practice process.
Deconstruction is used to explore clients' problems, therapist-client
relations, and to deconstruct psychotherapy itself. Included topics are
narrative therapy, non-regulative praxis, postmodern therapy, feminist
and discursive therapy
Believed-In Imaginings: The Narrative Construction of
Reality
Edited by
Joseph de Rivera and Theodore R. Sarbin
American Psychological Association,
1998
ISBN: 1-55798-521-9
Reviewed by
Shlomit Schuster
This collection of articles by 20 experts is
the result of a
conference organized by Rivera and Sarbin at Clark
University in
1997. Most of the texts present a critical psychology
viewpoint,
though also included are interdisciplinary perspectives.
The lead motif in this collection is an
investigation in the origin of
erroneous memories which could be understood
by applying
a narrative approach. The narrative accounts indeed seem to
provide
insight in the False Memory Syndrome.
For example, UFO abductions and hallucinations
obtain different
contours by questioning the nature of reality, truth,
believing and
knowing. A recommended reading for professional
health workers
and the educated public in general.
Open Minded: Working Out the Logic of the Soul
Jonathan Lear
Harvard University Press,
1998
ISBN 0-674-45533-9
Reviewed by Shlomit Schuster
A fascinating defense of psychoanalysis, with the
aim of rescuing
and reviving Freud. By including and transcending
the remarks of
Freud-bashers Lear aims to create a non-dogmatic
psychoanalysis.
The narrow minded dogmatism of professional
philosophy and
psychoanalysis are denounced.
Re-questioning the logic of the soul is elementary
in the search to justify
the unconscious as a reasonable explanation for
human irrationality.
Plato and many other philosophers explored these
obscured meanings
in human consciousness, but not as Freud.
In spite of its philosophical
charm, Lear's concepts might turn out in the eyes of critics the latest
invisible high couture for
the emperor-psychoanalyst from Vienna.
Young Children, Videos and Computer Games:
Issues for Teachers and Parents
Jack Sanger , Jane
Wilson, Bryn Davies, and Roger Whitakker
The Falmer Press, 1997
ISBN 0-7507-0-701-1
Reviewed by Shlomit Schuster
Whereas computer-screen events are instantly blamed
as the
source for youth delinquency, there is however
still a lack in research
that demonstrates how information technology
(IT) shapes the thoughts
and lives of young children.
Although Sager & Co. do not provide by their
qualitative research final
answers on this matter, much can be learned through
their interviews with
children, parents and teachers how children relate
to IT.
Interviews with over 100 children show that the
youngsters are well aware
of difference between facts and virtual
"reality". Sanger argues that a
greater involvement of teachers and parents in the
use of IT in education is
needed to make the computer screen as beneficial as
it can be.
- If you have comments, suggestions, or a request to review a book ,
or want to submit a book review for publication at the Sophon Review of
Books email me at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Shlomit Schuster
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