Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!, 13 Jul 1998
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves, 24 Mar 1997
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating.

Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!, 13 Jul 1998
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves, 24 Mar 1997
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating.

How the evolution of mating affects your dating, 11 Dec 2006
Why do women use makeup? Why do men like to buy big cars? Why do people feel jealous? Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss digs deep into the ancient past of human relationships to answer such questions, and produces intriguing results, disconcerting insights and valuable explanations. Using observations from the animal world and from many studies conducted in various societies, he provides a theoretical framework based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. Give Buss credit for elaborately fitting in almost every conceivable puzzle inherent in human mating relationships - even though this, admittedly, at times requires quite a stretch of his evolutionary theory. We recommend this "drop-dead shocker" (The Washington Post Book World) to anyone who has ever searched for, attracted, kept or separated from a mate - that is, anyone who is strong enough to face the unromantic truth.

Harmony between the sexes, 15 Jan 2006
Buss has taken the story of human evolution a significant step forward with this comprehensive study. As with the other mammals, human mating behaviour is a compelling subject of study. In this comprehensive account, Buss ranges over the many aspects we associate with mating, from conflict through pain to legislation. Mating practices, whether human or other animal, are the product of evolutionary pressures. Until we recognize those roots, Buss argues, we will never fully understand many elements affecting our lives. One of the first elements to consider is that both men and women have short- and long-term mating strategies. These "programs" must be taken in account when dealing with relationship issues.

Buss is forthright about the study of evolutionary psychology and human social activities. He asserts that many roles, under attack by some people in our society, are deeply rooted in our background. We will never legislate them away nor be able to ignore them. There are inherent differences between the sexes, and these must be recognized for what they are. Society has attempted to smother some of these differences, and failure to stifle natural urges have likely led to more social suffering than any other single cause.

Buss goes further than simply calling for more attention to the basis for our mating behaviour. He notes some surprising aspects of our relationships. The "henpecked husband" is more prevalent than even our comedians would expect. Males, especially in a long-term relationship Buss argues, will become more submissive than females. They will change or accept demands more than those just entering a liaison. This certainly refutes the long-held stereotype of submissive women. On the assumption readers will seek out his chapter on rape, there are no end of surprises here. Although few would argue ape is an adapted evolutionary strategy, the demographics of rape do show a relation with normal patterns of male sexual behaviour.

This book is the result of a massive amount of research undertaken over many human societies. Not simply a quick snapshot of a few people from the Western world, the information here has been gleaned over many years and many cultures. The patterns Buss describes are universals of the human population. Nor is this simply a dry academic study. Buss is aware of social issues, personal and gender prejudices and legal considerations. He is careful to note that evolutionary roots are not "genetic determinism" and men and women are not "doomed" to follow particular behaviours. As he puts it, "understanding why sexual strategies have developed and what functions they were designed to serve provides a powerful fulcrum of changing behaviour." His candid approach, combined with a style designed to impart information without overwhelming his readers, makes this a valuable book. More teachers, legislators and counselors should read and apply Buss' findings. His work should eliminate many prejudices if properly applied. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A fascinating read, 11 Oct 2005
I studied this book six years ago as part of my psychology course at university. I found it an absolutely fascinating and highly interesting read. so much so, that despite having leant the book to someone many years ago, and not getting it back, I still find myself thinking about it. I think i'll buy another one.

lacks scientific evidence, 17 Mar 2002
This book may be interesting in parts, but on the whole it contradicts itself, it is bias and focusses on male desire alone. It is accessible though and easy to read and may be a good starting point for those interested in the evolution of sexual desire.

interesting, 12 Oct 2001
I found this book interesting, but it was bias and many of the studies conducted were done in such a way as to simply confirm ideas that our society already has and reinforced stereotypes. There wasn't anything that excited me or taught me things i do not already know. Many of the studies were just done on men and not on women which shows that many of the results were already assumed. I think that there are many things in life that cannot be explained and reductionistic thinking such as David M Buss's only takes us further from the truth ..... he makes too many claims when his evidence is not strong enough. I know many many men who do not fit the profiles described by Buss, and many many women who certainly do not ..... (i really do not know that many young beautiful women who would want to have sex with a rich old man over a youthful, fit and gorgeous one). Also, who conducted all the surveys? There are many things that are acceptable for men to say and not for women to say .... and there are many other factors that need to be considered, such as cultural influence so surveys can't be assumed to be the definitive and factual.
Reproduction isn't our sole purpose in this world anyway..... how would you explain creativity, friendship etc .... as humans i believe we have a deeper purpose in life than just sex.

It's a good book to read but i would read a lot more before forming opinions. Buss cannot claim to know these things for certain.... things that people have been asking for centuries and centuries.

Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!, 13 Jul 1998
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves, 24 Mar 1997
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating.

How the evolution of mating affects your dating, 11 Dec 2006
Why do women use makeup? Why do men like to buy big cars? Why do people feel jealous? Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss digs deep into the ancient past of human relationships to answer such questions, and produces intriguing results, disconcerting insights and valuable explanations. Using observations from the animal world and from many studies conducted in various societies, he provides a theoretical framework based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. Give Buss credit for elaborately fitting in almost every conceivable puzzle inherent in human mating relationships - even though this, admittedly, at times requires quite a stretch of his evolutionary theory. We recommend this "drop-dead shocker" (The Washington Post Book World) to anyone who has ever searched for, attracted, kept or separated from a mate - that is, anyone who is strong enough to face the unromantic truth.

Harmony between the sexes, 15 Jan 2006
Buss has taken the story of human evolution a significant step forward with this comprehensive study. As with the other mammals, human mating behaviour is a compelling subject of study. In this comprehensive account, Buss ranges over the many aspects we associate with mating, from conflict through pain to legislation. Mating practices, whether human or other animal, are the product of evolutionary pressures. Until we recognize those roots, Buss argues, we will never fully understand many elements affecting our lives. One of the first elements to consider is that both men and women have short- and long-term mating strategies. These "programs" must be taken in account when dealing with relationship issues.

Buss is forthright about the study of evolutionary psychology and human social activities. He asserts that many roles, under attack by some people in our society, are deeply rooted in our background. We will never legislate them away nor be able to ignore them. There are inherent differences between the sexes, and these must be recognized for what they are. Society has attempted to smother some of these differences, and failure to stifle natural urges have likely led to more social suffering than any other single cause.

Buss goes further than simply calling for more attention to the basis for our mating behaviour. He notes some surprising aspects of our relationships. The "henpecked husband" is more prevalent than even our comedians would expect. Males, especially in a long-term relationship Buss argues, will become more submissive than females. They will change or accept demands more than those just entering a liaison. This certainly refutes the long-held stereotype of submissive women. On the assumption readers will seek out his chapter on rape, there are no end of surprises here. Although few would argue ape is an adapted evolutionary strategy, the demographics of rape do show a relation with normal patterns of male sexual behaviour.

This book is the result of a massive amount of research undertaken over many human societies. Not simply a quick snapshot of a few people from the Western world, the information here has been gleaned over many years and many cultures. The patterns Buss describes are universals of the human population. Nor is this simply a dry academic study. Buss is aware of social issues, personal and gender prejudices and legal considerations. He is careful to note that evolutionary roots are not "genetic determinism" and men and women are not "doomed" to follow particular behaviours. As he puts it, "understanding why sexual strategies have developed and what functions they were designed to serve provides a powerful fulcrum of changing behaviour." His candid approach, combined with a style designed to impart information without overwhelming his readers, makes this a valuable book. More teachers, legislators and counselors should read and apply Buss' findings. His work should eliminate many prejudices if properly applied. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A fascinating read, 11 Oct 2005
I studied this book six years ago as part of my psychology course at university. I found it an absolutely fascinating and highly interesting read. so much so, that despite having leant the book to someone many years ago, and not getting it back, I still find myself thinking about it. I think i'll buy another one.

lacks scientific evidence, 17 Mar 2002
This book may be interesting in parts, but on the whole it contradicts itself, it is bias and focusses on male desire alone. It is accessible though and easy to read and may be a good starting point for those interested in the evolution of sexual desire.

interesting, 12 Oct 2001
I found this book interesting, but it was bias and many of the studies conducted were done in such a way as to simply confirm ideas that our society already has and reinforced stereotypes. There wasn't anything that excited me or taught me things i do not already know. Many of the studies were just done on men and not on women which shows that many of the results were already assumed. I think that there are many things in life that cannot be explained and reductionistic thinking such as David M Buss's only takes us further from the truth ..... he makes too many claims when his evidence is not strong enough. I know many many men who do not fit the profiles described by Buss, and many many women who certainly do not ..... (i really do not know that many young beautiful women who would want to have sex with a rich old man over a youthful, fit and gorgeous one). Also, who conducted all the surveys? There are many things that are acceptable for men to say and not for women to say .... and there are many other factors that need to be considered, such as cultural influence so surveys can't be assumed to be the definitive and factual.
Reproduction isn't our sole purpose in this world anyway..... how would you explain creativity, friendship etc .... as humans i believe we have a deeper purpose in life than just sex.

It's a good book to read but i would read a lot more before forming opinions. Buss cannot claim to know these things for certain.... things that people have been asking for centuries and centuries.

A walk on the Wilhelm side, 16 Oct 2007
This is a challenging book especially for a lay person such as myself. Reich may have been on to something but he may also have been going mad.

The first two parts of "Character Analysis" cover Reich's move away from classical psychoanalysis as he decided his patients were sustaining their "mental" illness by means of chronic muscular tensions: the "character armor". He decided that talk therapy was unproductive: due to resistances people were not reporting genuinely. So he turned to direct physical activities.

The third and final part of "Character Analysis" is as extraordinary as it may be baffling. Reich believed he had found a cosmic life force, "orgone energy", the disturbance in the flow of which in a person led to neurosis or psychosis. He believed that an invention of his, the "orgone accumulator", might help a person by providing orgone energy to them. He provides details of the body work he conducted with a psychotic patient in the intense chapter "The Schizophrenic Split". He concludes with his concerns about "emotional plague" as an explanation for mass movements such as Fascism. Reich appears to be struggling in this third part of the book, at times he seemed brilliant to me, at times he seemed quite disturbed. To what extent he was reaching to find ways to express important findings is unclear. He seems to have overreached but that may not invalidated some or much of what he presented. It's hard to tell.

Although Reich's use of the "orgone accumulator" led to his imprisonment, body work based on his ideas and techniques has continued. Alexander Lowen developed the psychotherapy Bioenergetics based on Reich's findings. Charles Kelley created Radix, a personal growth practice, also based on Reich's work. Lowen has published exercises for one or two people The Way To Vibrant Health: A Manual Of Bioenergetic Exercises which may be used to become familiar with the kind of body work Reich pioneered. Reich believed that some form or other of character armoring was common among many people, not just the mentally ill: at least some of what he presents in "Character Analysis" may be useful for anyone.

Magesterial, 12 Nov 2005
Anyone with a serious interest in psychoanalysis should read this. But it cannot be understood through intellect alone; these characters have to be lived, experienced. Someone who is trying to understand this intellectually will fail, although if he is sensitive to Reich's ideas will gain a great deal of insight into human psychology. Will become a seminal text in the near future.

Neglected masterpiece, 29 Jan 2004
Yes, I know, everyone's saying that, but it IS a neglected masterpiece.

The bulk of the book deals with "character armour" and "affect blocking" - the ways in which people suppress and shut down emotions by developing characteristic responses and forms of bodily rigidity. The last chapter, a case study on schizophrenia, is a masterpiece in its own right, perhaps the first example of anti-psychiatry and a forerunner of "Listen, Little Man" in Reich's angry and pointed denouncement of the stupidities of "homo normalis". For Reich, psychological normality is not at all the same thing as "mental health".

This is one of a very few theoretical books which directly engages with people's lives - you can read Reich and perhaps become aware of the character-armour you've developed yourself, the reactions of people around you and the genesis of apparently inexplicable social phenomena. In addition, Reich is a pioneer of the idea of bio-power; his analysis combines understandings of the body, the psyche and social relations in a manner unheard-of in his day. A truly magnificent book.

Neglected masterpiece, 03 Sep 1998
Conventional wisdom has it that the firest two-thirds of this treatise on character analysis improved psychoanalytic technique, focusing on character-based resistances rather than just on interpreting content--associations, dreams, etc. True enough, but the last third, which analysts and critics say represents Reich's slippage into maddness, is even more brilliant and farsighted. Here, Reich moves into the area of bioenergy and body-based psychotherapy. He presages some modern developments in psychotherapy, and in many respects, moves ahead of where mainstream therapy resides today. His bioenergy/therapy integration was also a forerunner of much of today's alternative mind-body and energy medicine modalities. Reich was not always the most trenchant writer, but here is writing his sharp, direct, and provocative. This is Reich's great contribution, still largely neglected.

Neglected masterpiece, 30 Aug 1998
This important work is sometimes heralded as a landmark in psychoanalytic literature, as Reich changed aspects of analytic technique, focusing on character structure and not just the contents of free association, dreams, memories, etc. But any analyst or psychologist familiar with this work will usually say, but he went mad in the middle, and the last third of the book is nonsense. In fact, the last third--when he focuses on new forms of body-based treatment and theories regarding bioenergy, is even more brilliant. Take a gander at this section and you may recognize a mind way ahead of his times; Reich precedes and surpasses modern day notions of biological energy medicine, body-based psychotherapy, and emotional expression in healing. While his writing is usually uneven, here it is quite sharp, clear, and consistent throughout. We still have a lot to learn from Reich.

Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!, 13 Jul 1998
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves, 24 Mar 1997
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating.

How the evolution of mating affects your dating, 11 Dec 2006
Why do women use makeup? Why do men like to buy big cars? Why do people feel jealous? Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss digs deep into the ancient past of human relationships to answer such questions, and produces intriguing results, disconcerting insights and valuable explanations. Using observations from the animal world and from many studies conducted in various societies, he provides a theoretical framework based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. Give Buss credit for elaborately fitting in almost every conceivable puzzle inherent in human mating relationships - even though this, admittedly, at times requires quite a stretch of his evolutionary theory. We recommend this "drop-dead shocker" (The Washington Post Book World) to anyone who has ever searched for, attracted, kept or separated from a mate - that is, anyone who is strong enough to face the unromantic truth.

Harmony between the sexes, 15 Jan 2006
Buss has taken the story of human evolution a significant step forward with this comprehensive study. As with the other mammals, human mating behaviour is a compelling subject of study. In this comprehensive account, Buss ranges over the many aspects we associate with mating, from conflict through pain to legislation. Mating practices, whether human or other animal, are the product of evolutionary pressures. Until we recognize those roots, Buss argues, we will never fully understand many elements affecting our lives. One of the first elements to consider is that both men and women have short- and long-term mating strategies. These "programs" must be taken in account when dealing with relationship issues.

Buss is forthright about the study of evolutionary psychology and human social activities. He asserts that many roles, under attack by some people in our society, are deeply rooted in our background. We will never legislate them away nor be able to ignore them. There are inherent differences between the sexes, and these must be recognized for what they are. Society has attempted to smother some of these differences, and failure to stifle natural urges have likely led to more social suffering than any other single cause.

Buss goes further than simply calling for more attention to the basis for our mating behaviour. He notes some surprising aspects of our relationships. The "henpecked husband" is more prevalent than even our comedians would expect. Males, especially in a long-term relationship Buss argues, will become more submissive than females. They will change or accept demands more than those just entering a liaison. This certainly refutes the long-held stereotype of submissive women. On the assumption readers will seek out his chapter on rape, there are no end of surprises here. Although few would argue ape is an adapted evolutionary strategy, the demographics of rape do show a relation with normal patterns of male sexual behaviour.

This book is the result of a massive amount of research undertaken over many human societies. Not simply a quick snapshot of a few people from the Western world, the information here has been gleaned over many years and many cultures. The patterns Buss describes are universals of the human population. Nor is this simply a dry academic study. Buss is aware of social issues, personal and gender prejudices and legal considerations. He is careful to note that evolutionary roots are not "genetic determinism" and men and women are not "doomed" to follow particular behaviours. As he puts it, "understanding why sexual strategies have developed and what functions they were designed to serve provides a powerful fulcrum of changing behaviour." His candid approach, combined with a style designed to impart information without overwhelming his readers, makes this a valuable book. More teachers, legislators and counselors should read and apply Buss' findings. His work should eliminate many prejudices if properly applied. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A fascinating read, 11 Oct 2005
I studied this book six years ago as part of my psychology course at university. I found it an absolutely fascinating and highly interesting read. so much so, that despite having leant the book to someone many years ago, and not getting it back, I still find myself thinking about it. I think i'll buy another one.

lacks scientific evidence, 17 Mar 2002
This book may be interesting in parts, but on the whole it contradicts itself, it is bias and focusses on male desire alone. It is accessible though and easy to read and may be a good starting point for those interested in the evolution of sexual desire.

interesting, 12 Oct 2001
I found this book interesting, but it was bias and many of the studies conducted were done in such a way as to simply confirm ideas that our society already has and reinforced stereotypes. There wasn't anything that excited me or taught me things i do not already know. Many of the studies were just done on men and not on women which shows that many of the results were already assumed. I think that there are many things in life that cannot be explained and reductionistic thinking such as David M Buss's only takes us further from the truth ..... he makes too many claims when his evidence is not strong enough. I know many many men who do not fit the profiles described by Buss, and many many women who certainly do not ..... (i really do not know that many young beautiful women who would want to have sex with a rich old man over a youthful, fit and gorgeous one). Also, who conducted all the surveys? There are many things that are acceptable for men to say and not for women to say .... and there are many other factors that need to be considered, such as cultural influence so surveys can't be assumed to be the definitive and factual.
Reproduction isn't our sole purpose in this world anyway..... how would you explain creativity, friendship etc .... as humans i believe we have a deeper purpose in life than just sex.

It's a good book to read but i would read a lot more before forming opinions. Buss cannot claim to know these things for certain.... things that people have been asking for centuries and centuries.

A walk on the Wilhelm side, 16 Oct 2007
This is a challenging book especially for a lay person such as myself. Reich may have been on to something but he may also have been going mad.

The first two parts of "Character Analysis" cover Reich's move away from classical psychoanalysis as he decided his patients were sustaining their "mental" illness by means of chronic muscular tensions: the "character armor". He decided that talk therapy was unproductive: due to resistances people were not reporting genuinely. So he turned to direct physical activities.

The third and final part of "Character Analysis" is as extraordinary as it may be baffling. Reich believed he had found a cosmic life force, "orgone energy", the disturbance in the flow of which in a person led to neurosis or psychosis. He believed that an invention of his, the "orgone accumulator", might help a person by providing orgone energy to them. He provides details of the body work he conducted with a psychotic patient in the intense chapter "The Schizophrenic Split". He concludes with his concerns about "emotional plague" as an explanation for mass movements such as Fascism. Reich appears to be struggling in this third part of the book, at times he seemed brilliant to me, at times he seemed quite disturbed. To what extent he was reaching to find ways to express important findings is unclear. He seems to have overreached but that may not invalidated some or much of what he presented. It's hard to tell.

Although Reich's use of the "orgone accumulator" led to his imprisonment, body work based on his ideas and techniques has continued. Alexander Lowen developed the psychotherapy Bioenergetics based on Reich's findings. Charles Kelley created Radix, a personal growth practice, also based on Reich's work. Lowen has published exercises for one or two people The Way To Vibrant Health: A Manual Of Bioenergetic Exercises which may be used to become familiar with the kind of body work Reich pioneered. Reich believed that some form or other of character armoring was common among many people, not just the mentally ill: at least some of what he presents in "Character Analysis" may be useful for anyone.

Magesterial, 12 Nov 2005
Anyone with a serious interest in psychoanalysis should read this. But it cannot be understood through intellect alone; these characters have to be lived, experienced. Someone who is trying to understand this intellectually will fail, although if he is sensitive to Reich's ideas will gain a great deal of insight into human psychology. Will become a seminal text in the near future.

Neglected masterpiece, 29 Jan 2004
Yes, I know, everyone's saying that, but it IS a neglected masterpiece.

The bulk of the book deals with "character armour" and "affect blocking" - the ways in which people suppress and shut down emotions by developing characteristic responses and forms of bodily rigidity. The last chapter, a case study on schizophrenia, is a masterpiece in its own right, perhaps the first example of anti-psychiatry and a forerunner of "Listen, Little Man" in Reich's angry and pointed denouncement of the stupidities of "homo normalis". For Reich, psychological normality is not at all the same thing as "mental health".

This is one of a very few theoretical books which directly engages with people's lives - you can read Reich and perhaps become aware of the character-armour you've developed yourself, the reactions of people around you and the genesis of apparently inexplicable social phenomena. In addition, Reich is a pioneer of the idea of bio-power; his analysis combines understandings of the body, the psyche and social relations in a manner unheard-of in his day. A truly magnificent book.

Neglected masterpiece, 03 Sep 1998
Conventional wisdom has it that the firest two-thirds of this treatise on character analysis improved psychoanalytic technique, focusing on character-based resistances rather than just on interpreting content--associations, dreams, etc. True enough, but the last third, which analysts and critics say represents Reich's slippage into maddness, is even more brilliant and farsighted. Here, Reich moves into the area of bioenergy and body-based psychotherapy. He presages some modern developments in psychotherapy, and in many respects, moves ahead of where mainstream therapy resides today. His bioenergy/therapy integration was also a forerunner of much of today's alternative mind-body and energy medicine modalities. Reich was not always the most trenchant writer, but here is writing his sharp, direct, and provocative. This is Reich's great contribution, still largely neglected.

Neglected masterpiece, 30 Aug 1998
This important work is sometimes heralded as a landmark in psychoanalytic literature, as Reich changed aspects of analytic technique, focusing on character structure and not just the contents of free association, dreams, memories, etc. But any analyst or psychologist familiar with this work will usually say, but he went mad in the middle, and the last third of the book is nonsense. In fact, the last third--when he focuses on new forms of body-based treatment and theories regarding bioenergy, is even more brilliant. Take a gander at this section and you may recognize a mind way ahead of his times; Reich precedes and surpasses modern day notions of biological energy medicine, body-based psychotherapy, and emotional expression in healing. While his writing is usually uneven, here it is quite sharp, clear, and consistent throughout. We still have a lot to learn from Reich.

(M)other may I?, 21 Apr 1997
Ah, Lacan...While the postmodern generation, driven to digital scriptololia and hiding beneath their cyber-covers dreaming of Hale-Bopp, continues to feed the yet burgeoning X-philes kitsch and cannabis industry, Lacan stands ready, armed with a bastion of certitude decked out in quagmire of tangled, crabbed, needling, Gallic, galling prose: beneath it all, the phallus, the objet a, the name-of-the-father, the Other of the Other, and jouissance, it all goes back to mom. Oh, the laughter--that none may deny--EVERYBODY's parents @*&#-ed them up!

Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!, 13 Jul 1998
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves, 24 Mar 1997
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating.

How the evolution of mating affects your dating, 11 Dec 2006
Why do women use makeup? Why do men like to buy big cars? Why do people feel jealous? Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss digs deep into the ancient past of human relationships to answer such questions, and produces intriguing results, disconcerting insights and valuable explanations. Using observations from the animal world and from many studies conducted in various societies, he provides a theoretical framework based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. Give Buss credit for elaborately fitting in almost every conceivable puzzle inherent in human mating relationships - even though this, admittedly, at times requires quite a stretch of his evolutionary theory. We recommend this "drop-dead shocker" (The Washington Post Book World) to anyone who has ever searched for, attracted, kept or separated from a mate - that is, anyone who is strong enough to face the unromantic truth.

Harmony between the sexes, 15 Jan 2006
Buss has taken the story of human evolution a significant step forward with this comprehensive study. As with the other mammals, human mating behaviour is a compelling subject of study. In this comprehensive account, Buss ranges over the many aspects we associate with mating, from conflict through pain to legislation. Mating practices, whether human or other animal, are the product of evolutionary pressures. Until we recognize those roots, Buss argues, we will never fully understand many elements affecting our lives. One of the first elements to consider is that both men and women have short- and long-term mating strategies. These "programs" must be taken in account when dealing with relationship issues.

Buss is forthright about the study of evolutionary psychology and human social activities. He asserts that many roles, under attack by some people in our society, are deeply rooted in our background. We will never legislate them away nor be able to ignore them. There are inherent differences between the sexes, and these must be recognized for what they are. Society has attempted to smother some of these differences, and failure to stifle natural urges have likely led to more social suffering than any other single cause.

Buss goes further than simply calling for more attention to the basis for our mating behaviour. He notes some surprising aspects of our relationships. The "henpecked husband" is more prevalent than even our comedians would expect. Males, especially in a long-term relationship Buss argues, will become more submissive than females. They will change or accept demands more than those just entering a liaison. This certainly refutes the long-held stereotype of submissive women. On the assumption readers will seek out his chapter on rape, there are no end of surprises here. Although few would argue ape is an adapted evolutionary strategy, the demographics of rape do show a relation with normal patterns of male sexual behaviour.

This book is the result of a massive amount of research undertaken over many human societies. Not simply a quick snapshot of a few people from the Western world, the information here has been gleaned over many years and many cultures. The patterns Buss describes are universals of the human population. Nor is this simply a dry academic study. Buss is aware of social issues, personal and gender prejudices and legal considerations. He is careful to note that evolutionary roots are not "genetic determinism" and men and women are not "doomed" to follow particular behaviours. As he puts it, "understanding why sexual strategies have developed and what functions they were designed to serve provides a powerful fulcrum of changing behaviour." His candid approach, combined with a style designed to impart information without overwhelming his readers, makes this a valuable book. More teachers, legislators and counselors should read and apply Buss' findings. His work should eliminate many prejudices if properly applied. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A fascinating read, 11 Oct 2005
I studied this book six years ago as part of my psychology course at university. I found it an absolutely fascinating and highly interesting read. so much so, that despite having leant the book to someone many years ago, and not getting it back, I still find myself thinking about it. I think i'll buy another one.

lacks scientific evidence, 17 Mar 2002
This book may be interesting in parts, but on the whole it contradicts itself, it is bias and focusses on male desire alone. It is accessible though and easy to read and may be a good starting point for those interested in the evolution of sexual desire.

interesting, 12 Oct 2001
I found this book interesting, but it was bias and many of the studies conducted were done in such a way as to simply confirm ideas that our society already has and reinforced stereotypes. There wasn't anything that excited me or taught me things i do not already know. Many of the studies were just done on men and not on women which shows that many of the results were already assumed. I think that there are many things in life that cannot be explained and reductionistic thinking such as David M Buss's only takes us further from the truth ..... he makes too many claims when his evidence is not strong enough. I know many many men who do not fit the profiles described by Buss, and many many women who certainly do not ..... (i really do not know that many young beautiful women who would want to have sex with a rich old man over a youthful, fit and gorgeous one). Also, who conducted all the surveys? There are many things that are acceptable for men to say and not for women to say .... and there are many other factors that need to be considered, such as cultural influence so surveys can't be assumed to be the definitive and factual.
Reproduction isn't our sole purpose in this world anyway..... how would you explain creativity, friendship etc .... as humans i believe we have a deeper purpose in life than just sex.

It's a good book to read but i would read a lot more before forming opinions. Buss cannot claim to know these things for certain.... things that people have been asking for centuries and centuries.

A walk on the Wilhelm side, 16 Oct 2007
This is a challenging book especially for a lay person such as myself. Reich may have been on to something but he may also have been going mad.

The first two parts of "Character Analysis" cover Reich's move away from classical psychoanalysis as he decided his patients were sustaining their "mental" illness by means of chronic muscular tensions: the "character armor". He decided that talk therapy was unproductive: due to resistances people were not reporting genuinely. So he turned to direct physical activities.

The third and final part of "Character Analysis" is as extraordinary as it may be baffling. Reich believed he had found a cosmic life force, "orgone energy", the disturbance in the flow of which in a person led to neurosis or psychosis. He believed that an invention of his, the "orgone accumulator", might help a person by providing orgone energy to them. He provides details of the body work he conducted with a psychotic patient in the intense chapter "The Schizophrenic Split". He concludes with his concerns about "emotional plague" as an explanation for mass movements such as Fascism. Reich appears to be struggling in this third part of the book, at times he seemed brilliant to me, at times he seemed quite disturbed. To what extent he was reaching to find ways to express important findings is unclear. He seems to have overreached but that may not invalidated some or much of what he presented. It's hard to tell.

Although Reich's use of the "orgone accumulator" led to his imprisonment, body work based on his ideas and techniques has continued. Alexander Lowen developed the psychotherapy Bioenergetics based on Reich's findings. Charles Kelley created Radix, a personal growth practice, also based on Reich's work. Lowen has published exercises for one or two people The Way To Vibrant Health: A Manual Of Bioenergetic Exercises which may be used to become familiar with the kind of body work Reich pioneered. Reich believed that some form or other of character armoring was common among many people, not just the mentally ill: at least some of what he presents in "Character Analysis" may be useful for anyone.

Magesterial, 12 Nov 2005
Anyone with a serious interest in psychoanalysis should read this. But it cannot be understood through intellect alone; these characters have to be lived, experienced. Someone who is trying to understand this intellectually will fail, although if he is sensitive to Reich's ideas will gain a great deal of insight into human psychology. Will become a seminal text in the near future.

Neglected masterpiece, 29 Jan 2004
Yes, I know, everyone's saying that, but it IS a neglected masterpiece.

The bulk of the book deals with "character armour" and "affect blocking" - the ways in which people suppress and shut down emotions by developing characteristic responses and forms of bodily rigidity. The last chapter, a case study on schizophrenia, is a masterpiece in its own right, perhaps the first example of anti-psychiatry and a forerunner of "Listen, Little Man" in Reich's angry and pointed denouncement of the stupidities of "homo normalis". For Reich, psychological normality is not at all the same thing as "mental health".

This is one of a very few theoretical books which directly engages with people's lives - you can read Reich and perhaps become aware of the character-armour you've developed yourself, the reactions of people around you and the genesis of apparently inexplicable social phenomena. In addition, Reich is a pioneer of the idea of bio-power; his analysis combines understandings of the body, the psyche and social relations in a manner unheard-of in his day. A truly magnificent book.

Neglected masterpiece, 03 Sep 1998
Conventional wisdom has it that the firest two-thirds of this treatise on character analysis improved psychoanalytic technique, focusing on character-based resistances rather than just on interpreting content--associations, dreams, etc. True enough, but the last third, which analysts and critics say represents Reich's slippage into maddness, is even more brilliant and farsighted. Here, Reich moves into the area of bioenergy and body-based psychotherapy. He presages some modern developments in psychotherapy, and in many respects, moves ahead of where mainstream therapy resides today. His bioenergy/therapy integration was also a forerunner of much of today's alternative mind-body and energy medicine modalities. Reich was not always the most trenchant writer, but here is writing his sharp, direct, and provocative. This is Reich's great contribution, still largely neglected.

Neglected masterpiece, 30 Aug 1998
This important work is sometimes heralded as a landmark in psychoanalytic literature, as Reich changed aspects of analytic technique, focusing on character structure and not just the contents of free association, dreams, memories, etc. But any analyst or psychologist familiar with this work will usually say, but he went mad in the middle, and the last third of the book is nonsense. In fact, the last third--when he focuses on new forms of body-based treatment and theories regarding bioenergy, is even more brilliant. Take a gander at this section and you may recognize a mind way ahead of his times; Reich precedes and surpasses modern day notions of biological energy medicine, body-based psychotherapy, and emotional expression in healing. While his writing is usually uneven, here it is quite sharp, clear, and consistent throughout. We still have a lot to learn from Reich.

(M)other may I?, 21 Apr 1997
Ah, Lacan...While the postmodern generation, driven to digital scriptololia and hiding beneath their cyber-covers dreaming of Hale-Bopp, continues to feed the yet burgeoning X-philes kitsch and cannabis industry, Lacan stands ready, armed with a bastion of certitude decked out in quagmire of tangled, crabbed, needling, Gallic, galling prose: beneath it all, the phallus, the objet a, the name-of-the-father, the Other of the Other, and jouissance, it all goes back to mom. Oh, the laughter--that none may deny--EVERYBODY's parents @*&#-ed them up!

A great resource for discovering sexual identity., 20 Feb 1999
I liked this book. I found it to be very affirming of my experience. It offers a balanced approach to exploring your sexual identity. I am married and have struggled with my attractions to men. This book shows that there are options for persons attracted to both sexes. It's not black and white. There is a HUGE middle and bisexuality encompasses it. I am bisexual and I feel much freer to make choices out of truth, than feeling like I 'have to be gay' or I'm 'in transition' because I enjoy my attractions to both sexes. The personal stories in the book are a great source of hope and guidance. Well done!

Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!, 13 Jul 1998
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves, 24 Mar 1997
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating.

How the evolution of mating affects your dating, 11 Dec 2006
Why do women use makeup? Why do men like to buy big cars? Why do people feel jealous? Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss digs deep into the ancient past of human relationships to answer such questions, and produces intriguing results, disconcerting insights and valuable explanations. Using observations from the animal world and from many studies conducted in various societies, he provides a theoretical framework based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. Give Buss credit for elaborately fitting in almost every conceivable puzzle inherent in human mating relationships - even though this, admittedly, at times requires quite a stretch of his evolutionary theory. We recommend this "drop-dead shocker" (The Washington Post Book World) to anyone who has ever searched for, attracted, kept or separated from a mate - that is, anyone who is strong enough to face the unromantic truth.

Harmony between the sexes, 15 Jan 2006
Buss has taken the story of human evolution a significant step forward with this comprehensive study. As with the other mammals, human mating behaviour is a compelling subject of study. In this comprehensive account, Buss ranges over the many aspects we associate with mating, from conflict through pain to legislation. Mating practices, whether human or other animal, are the product of evolutionary pressures. Until we recognize those roots, Buss argues, we will never fully understand many elements affecting our lives. One of the first elements to consider is that both men and women have short- and long-term mating strategies. These "programs" must be taken in account when dealing with relationship issues.

Buss is forthright about the study of evolutionary psychology and human social activities. He asserts that many roles, under attack by some people in our society, are deeply rooted in our background. We will never legislate them away nor be able to ignore them. There are inherent differences between the sexes, and these must be recognized for what they are. Society has attempted to smother some of these differences, and failure to stifle natural urges have likely led to more social suffering than any other single cause.

Buss goes further than simply calling for more attention to the basis for our mating behaviour. He notes some surprising aspects of our relationships. The "henpecked husband" is more prevalent than even our comedians would expect. Males, especially in a long-term relationship Buss argues, will become more submissive than females. They will change or accept demands more than those just entering a liaison. This certainly refutes the long-held stereotype of submissive women. On the assumption readers will seek out his chapter on rape, there are no end of surprises here. Although few would argue ape is an adapted evolutionary strategy, the demographics of rape do show a relation with normal patterns of male sexual behaviour.

This book is the result of a massive amount of research undertaken over many human societies. Not simply a quick snapshot of a few people from the Western world, the information here has been gleaned over many years and many cultures. The patterns Buss describes are universals of the human population. Nor is this simply a dry academic study. Buss is aware of social issues, personal and gender prejudices and legal considerations. He is careful to note that evolutionary roots are not "genetic determinism" and men and women are not "doomed" to follow particular behaviours. As he puts it, "understanding why sexual strategies have developed and what functions they were designed to serve provides a powerful fulcrum of changing behaviour." His candid approach, combined with a style designed to impart information without overwhelming his readers, makes this a valuable book. More teachers, legislators and counselors should read and apply Buss' findings. His work should eliminate many prejudices if properly applied. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A fascinating read, 11 Oct 2005
I studied this book six years ago as part of my psychology course at university. I found it an absolutely fascinating and highly interesting read. so much so, that despite having leant the book to someone many years ago, and not getting it back, I still find myself thinking about it. I think i'll buy another one.

lacks scientific evidence, 17 Mar 2002
This book may be interesting in parts, but on the whole it contradicts itself, it is bias and focusses on male desire alone. It is accessible though and easy to read and may be a good starting point for those interested in the evolution of sexual desire.

interesting, 12 Oct 2001
I found this book interesting, but it was bias and many of the studies conducted were done in such a way as to simply confirm ideas that our society already has and reinforced stereotypes. There wasn't anything that excited me or taught me things i do not already know. Many of the studies were just done on men and not on women which shows that many of the results were already assumed. I think that there are many things in life that cannot be explained and reductionistic thinking such as David M Buss's only takes us further from the truth ..... he makes too many claims when his evidence is not strong enough. I know many many men who do not fit the profiles described by Buss, and many many women who certainly do not ..... (i really do not know that many young beautiful women who would want to have sex with a rich old man over a youthful, fit and gorgeous one). Also, who conducted all the surveys? There are many things that are acceptable for men to say and not for women to say .... and there are many other factors that need to be considered, such as cultural influence so surveys can't be assumed to be the definitive and factual.
Reproduction isn't our sole purpose in this world anyway..... how would you explain creativity, friendship etc .... as humans i believe we have a deeper purpose in life than just sex.

It's a good book to read but i would read a lot more before forming opinions. Buss cannot claim to know these things for certain.... things that people have been asking for centuries and centuries.

A walk on the Wilhelm side, 16 Oct 2007
This is a challenging book especially for a lay person such as myself. Reich may have been on to something but he may also have been going mad.

The first two parts of "Character Analysis" cover Reich's move away from classical psychoanalysis as he decided his patients were sustaining their "mental" illness by means of chronic muscular tensions: the "character armor". He decided that talk therapy was unproductive: due to resistances people were not reporting genuinely. So he turned to direct physical activities.

The third and final part of "Character Analysis" is as extraordinary as it may be baffling. Reich believed he had found a cosmic life force, "orgone energy", the disturbance in the flow of which in a person led to neurosis or psychosis. He believed that an invention of his, the "orgone accumulator", might help a person by providing orgone energy to them. He provides details of the body work he conducted with a psychotic patient in the intense chapter "The Schizophrenic Split". He concludes with his concerns about "emotional plague" as an explanation for mass movements such as Fascism. Reich appears to be struggling in this third part of the book, at times he seemed brilliant to me, at times he seemed quite disturbed. To what extent he was reaching to find ways to express important findings is unclear. He seems to have overreached but that may not invalidated some or much of what he presented. It's hard to tell.

Although Reich's use of the "orgone accumulator" led to his imprisonment, body work based on his ideas and techniques has continued. Alexander Lowen developed the psychotherapy Bioenergetics based on Reich's findings. Charles Kelley created Radix, a personal growth practice, also based on Reich's work. Lowen has published exercises for one or two people The Way To Vibrant Health: A Manual Of Bioenergetic Exercises which may be used to become familiar with the kind of body work Reich pioneered. Reich believed that some form or other of character armoring was common among many people, not just the mentally ill: at least some of what he presents in "Character Analysis" may be useful for anyone.

Magesterial, 12 Nov 2005
Anyone with a serious interest in psychoanalysis should read this. But it cannot be understood through intellect alone; these characters have to be lived, experienced. Someone who is trying to understand this intellectually will fail, although if he is sensitive to Reich's ideas will gain a great deal of insight into human psychology. Will become a seminal text in the near future.

Neglected masterpiece, 29 Jan 2004
Yes, I know, everyone's saying that, but it IS a neglected masterpiece.

The bulk of the book deals with "character armour" and "affect blocking" - the ways in which people suppress and shut down emotions by developing characteristic responses and forms of bodily rigidity. The last chapter, a case study on schizophrenia, is a masterpiece in its own right, perhaps the first example of anti-psychiatry and a forerunner of "Listen, Little Man" in Reich's angry and pointed denouncement of the stupidities of "homo normalis". For Reich, psychological normality is not at all the same thing as "mental health".

This is one of a very few theoretical books which directly engages with people's lives - you can read Reich and perhaps become aware of the character-armour you've developed yourself, the reactions of people around you and the genesis of apparently inexplicable social phenomena. In addition, Reich is a pioneer of the idea of bio-power; his analysis combines understandings of the body, the psyche and social relations in a manner unheard-of in his day. A truly magnificent book.

Neglected masterpiece, 03 Sep 1998
Conventional wisdom has it that the firest two-thirds of this treatise on character analysis improved psychoanalytic technique, focusing on character-based resistances rather than just on interpreting content--associations, dreams, etc. True enough, but the last third, which analysts and critics say represents Reich's slippage into maddness, is even more brilliant and farsighted. Here, Reich moves into the area of bioenergy and body-based psychotherapy. He presages some modern developments in psychotherapy, and in many respects, moves ahead of where mainstream therapy resides today. His bioenergy/therapy integration was also a forerunner of much of today's alternative mind-body and energy medicine modalities. Reich was not always the most trenchant writer, but here is writing his sharp, direct, and provocative. This is Reich's great contribution, still largely neglected.

Neglected masterpiece, 30 Aug 1998
This important work is sometimes heralded as a landmark in psychoanalytic literature, as Reich changed aspects of analytic technique, focusing on character structure and not just the contents of free association, dreams, memories, etc. But any analyst or psychologist familiar with this work will usually say, but he went mad in the middle, and the last third of the book is nonsense. In fact, the last third--when he focuses on new forms of body-based treatment and theories regarding bioenergy, is even more brilliant. Take a gander at this section and you may recognize a mind way ahead of his times; Reich precedes and surpasses modern day notions of biological energy medicine, body-based psychotherapy, and emotional expression in healing. While his writing is usually uneven, here it is quite sharp, clear, and consistent throughout. We still have a lot to learn from Reich.

(M)other may I?, 21 Apr 1997
Ah, Lacan...While the postmodern generation, driven to digital scriptololia and hiding beneath their cyber-covers dreaming of Hale-Bopp, continues to feed the yet burgeoning X-philes kitsch and cannabis industry, Lacan stands ready, armed with a bastion of certitude decked out in quagmire of tangled, crabbed, needling, Gallic, galling prose: beneath it all, the phallus, the objet a, the name-of-the-father, the Other of the Other, and jouissance, it all goes back to mom. Oh, the laughter--that none may deny--EVERYBODY's parents @*&#-ed them up!

A great resource for discovering sexual identity., 20 Feb 1999
I liked this book. I found it to be very affirming of my experience. It offers a balanced approach to exploring your sexual identity. I am married and have struggled with my attractions to men. This book shows that there are options for persons attracted to both sexes. It's not black and white. There is a HUGE middle and bisexuality encompasses it. I am bisexual and I feel much freer to make choices out of truth, than feeling like I 'have to be gay' or I'm 'in transition' because I enjoy my attractions to both sexes. The personal stories in the book are a great source of hope and guidance. Well done!

Outraged!, 20 Jul 2006
I have to agree with the previous comment. Such radical views will of course always recieve backlash and criticism. This should not be seen as negative. Free speech is what we should be striving for, even if such views anger us.
The power of our white, patriachal societies are still very much invisible in western society and thus STILL need to be challenged. There is still a long way to go for women to become equals. I resent (and laugh at) such comments as, 'You can't say such radical comments about other minority groups' as it is a very different situation. I know the angle this argument is coming from, however I think ignorant racism that has no rational grounding and a feminist argument are v.different issues. We may not all agree with Dworkin's radical thinking, but it is vital to keep her work alive so we can build, adapt and analyze it so as to understand and progress the women's movement. I resent the immature and ridiculous comment about Dworkin's alleged rape. Whatever your own personal view, such comments are pathetic and completely uncalled for.

Review below offensive to rape survivors, 27 Aug 2005
Why are mysoginistic remarks such as those made by the last 'reviewer' allowed on Amazons website? For your information rape is not a matter of physical or other attraction to another human being but a form of control and torture imposed on another.
I have read some of Andrea Dworkins work,and much admire her; fully intend to buy this book.

Important Book but many of you have seemed to miss the point, 04 May 2004
Andrea Dworkin remains the central figure in radical feminism. And an important movement it was too. Feminists like Dworkin make us think and challenge our values, but you don't have to agree with her to understand her importance in contemporary society. The world has moved on since and we are now in a postfeminist age. Most of the reviews on here seem to be either men saying that she is crazy or women going "yeah - stick it to the boys". I think we may need to find a mid-point in this pantomime style debate. Men, like women are not a collective conscious and are probably as much victims of patriarchy. Feminism shouldn't be about one sex trying to get one up on the other. Surely this just creates a divide and feelings of anger on both sides. It's time people realised that all differing priorities and attitudes between genders are purely social constructs. I think everyone should go and research some Judith Butler and Annie Sprinkle to gain perspective. (ps. I am a man - does this change the validity of my opinion?)

Indispensable, 20 Nov 2000
Funny how it only seems to be men who dislike this book...those of you who think she's man-hating, take a look at her past. With the amount she's been through, she's amazingly kind to you lot. You don't agree with her ideas? Good, that's what makes us interesting and individual. But take one moment to think of this, boys - thousands upon thousands of women support her work and her popularity is spreading. You figure it out.

A Pronounced Inability to Evaluate Sources, 03 Jul 1999
I had read so much of Dworkin second-hand that I decided to seek out this wildly-praised "feminist classic" and see her in her own context.

Oh, Brother (sister?) This is an EXECRABLE work. It's bile and hatefulness towards people who happen to be born with a Y chromosome seems "heroic" to some readers, but what struck me more than this rather obvious fact is that the book is quite poorly written, one long screaming screed. Any pretense toward logical argument, careful evaluation of sources or the traditional processes of reasoned scholarship are thrown out, like the proverbial baby with the bath water.

Many will claim that such claims for 'linear' argumentation are part of the 'male hegemonic power structure'. Ho hum. All I'm asking for is coherence. The book will primarily appeal to people who find hatemongering illogic compelling when deployed against men and appalling in other contexts.

I went into this book thinking that Camille Paglia had done Dworkin a horrible disservice, and now I think she was being kind. Evidence not of insight or courage but, I'm afraid, of a warped consciousness and deep-seated biases. What makes this especially sad is that so many of Dworkin's *conclusions* deserve a hearing, but they are seated next to absurd ones that -- I'm not making this up, as Dave Barry might put it -- 'boldly' assert that heterosexual relations are at base a structure of domination, and that women who 'want it' are somehow psychologically mutilated. Sorry for the flippancy here; you don't come across something so achingly bad, and so wildly overpraised, every day.

Very good, but a little dated, 14 Feb 2003
This book was published in the mid '80s, based on much earlier material. It shows. The description of women resembles more the overwrought females of an Ibsen play than the vast majority of women today. Even the depiction of men was a gross distortion for its day, let alone now. New problems, such as easy divorce, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice, are not covered at all. So is this book overdue for honourable retirement?
Not a bit of it! The advice Anne Dickson gives to women to allow themselves to have a full and satisfying sexlife is absolutely spot-on. Even the advice I got from it (as a mere man) was terrific - learning to ask my wife what and how she feels during lovemaking, and the importance of friendships.
Anne Dickson's writing style is good, so her book is an easy read. The exercises she recommends to her female readership look tailor-made to reinforce the points she is trying to get across.
If Ms. Dickson updates the book to reflect society today, it will deserve five stars.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!, 13 Jul 1998
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves, 24 Mar 1997
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating.

How the evolution of mating affects your dating, 11 Dec 2006
Why do women use makeup? Why do men like to buy big cars? Why do people feel jealous? Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss digs deep into the ancient past of human relationships to answer such questions, and produces intriguing results, disconcerting insights and valuable explanations. Using observations from the animal world and from many studies conducted in various societies, he provides a theoretical framework based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. Give Buss credit for elaborately fitting in almost every conceivable puzzle inherent in human mating relationships - even though this, admittedly, at times requires quite a stretch of his evolutionary theory. We recommend this "drop-dead shocker" (The Washington Post Book World) to anyone who has ever searched for, attracted, kept or separated from a mate - that is, anyone who is strong enough to face the unromantic truth.

Harmony between the sexes, 15 Jan 2006