The 18 best Psychoanalysis books

March 31, 2024

The psychoanalysis and Freudian theories are one of the most interesting aspects of the history of psychology. However, psychoanalytic theory and practice are based on a sea of concepts not particularly easy to understand, which makes it difficult for students and curious people who want to start through psychoanalytic books.

This selection with Recommended books on psychoanalysis wants to be a help for these people who doubt among the large number of pages that have been written on the subject. At first 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 you are looking to read books on psychoanalysis in Spanish, this selection will be useful. Here you will find a selection of works to get 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, by offering us a vision about the way in which the father of the psychodynamic current understood psychoanalysis. Among its pages are explanations about the Freudian conception of mental disorders, the unconscious and the way in which it manifests itself.

To know more about this book, click here.

2. "Psychoanalysis: the impossible profession" by Janet Malcolm

This is one of the books of psychoanalysis that present this discipline in a more original way. Instead of merely reviewing Freud's legacy with an academic or encyclopedic tone, This work focuses on the work of a psychoanalyst and the way in which dialogue with him allows him to learn about his life , formation 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 books of psychoanalysis written in the decade in which Sigmund Freud finished developing theoretically his first ideas about the unconscious and its role in psychopathology.

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

To know more about the book, click here.

4. "The me 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 self 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 produces 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 at present. People who have little knowledge about psychoanalysis will understand its limitations from a post-positivist perspective, 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. "Discomfort in culture" by Sigmund Freud

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

You can buy it by 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 book a very complete book. Here are explained the elements that relate to each other all the techniques promoted by psychoanalysts .

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 to an explanation about 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 brief and tremendously accessible book about psychoanalysis and the social impact that it has had and continues to have. Very useful also to identify the false topics 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 has a very important role in the ideas of Freud , and this book is a very good way to access your ideas on the subject. The theory of psychosexual development is delineated among its pages.

You can read more about this work here.

More books on psychoanalysis to continue learning

If languages are not a problem for you, here you can see some of the most outstanding 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 course of psychoanalysis is explained, mixing theory with examples, make it one of the best options to have a global vision about the subject.

If you are interested, you can buy it here.

12. «Freud and Beyond», by S. Mitchell and M. J. Black

An excellent book of introduction to psychoanalytic theory and practice and its historical development from the death of Freud. Very indicated to know the way in which psychoanalysis has evolved in the decades after the 30s.

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

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

Erich Fromm was one of the most renowned humanist psychoanalysts , and in this work, he presents part of the path that psychoanalysis took from the original ideas of Sigmund Freud to the point where his disciples began to create different schools within the current of 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 brief book of psychoanalysis in which the basic concepts are clearly and simply explained to understand theory and practice.

You can find out 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, click here.

16. «Writings», by Jacques Lacan

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

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

One of the best books of support to understand the work of Lacan, throwing a 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.

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 schools of psychology, with its teachings, theories and concepts . If you want to have a deep look on authors like Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung or Alfred Adler (but at the same time you want to meet other figures such as Carl Rogers, Wilhelm Wundt or Albert Bandura), this book is for you.