Repetition, the Compulsion to Repeat, and the Death Drive

In the authors’ own words the central aim of this volume is: “Our project has been undertaken for both critical and historical reasons. We have aimed to understand Freud. Just what is the compulsion to repeat and does it provide evidence of some primal drive that points beyond the pleasure principle? Moreover, how did Freud arrive at his notion of a compulsion to repeat? Finally, just what is salvageable?” They have admirably answered these questions in an impressive work of exacting exegesis, historical reflection, philosophical analysis and pragmatic clinical evaluation. This book is simply a first rate piece of scholarship which leaves the reader with a nuanced and deeper understanding of central issues in Freud. However it is accessible for a beginning student of Freud as the authors also provide a clear and succinct introduction to the main dimensions of Freud’s thought. Finally, these authors are not dogmatic doctrinaire Freudians—fair and useful critiques of shortcomings are offered. This book is an essential read as it does an compelling job of arguing that repetition is a central construct in Freudian theory—and thus necessary to an accurate understanding of Freud. I think their arguments are convincing and need to be acknowledged by anyone with an interest in Freud or psychoanalytic theory and therapy. -- William T. Odonohue, University of Nevada, Reno
Repetition, the Compulsion to Repeat, and the Death Drive is one of the most important and original contributions to critique classical theory on the notions of repetition compulsion and the compulsion toward death that exists in Freudian studies today. A highly nuanced and meticulous revisitation of metapsychology that deserves serious scholarly attention. -- Jon Mills, Adler Graduate Professional School; author of Inventing God: Psychology of Belief and the Rise of Secular Spirituality