Book, Yes, psychoanalysis heals![LS]

A book that shows, through moving clinical cases, how a psychoanalyst accompanies his patients until they are cured J.-D. Nasio explains in an original way his conception and practice of how to conduct an analysis. The book was built around 8 examples from his practice – such as the Man in Black; Amália, the violent mother; and Clara, the baby who let herself die. Author of an already renowned and numerous work, Nasio explains in five stages how the analytical task unfolds: from observation to interpretation, when the analyst “clearly tells the patient what he already knew, albeit confusingly”. It also presents four new variants of the psychoanalyst's interpretation, which leads to healing. And he concludes that at the end of each analysis “the advent of healing continues to be an enigma”. “Nasio writes and works with an inventiveness that evokes Lacan's recommendation that each analyst must reinvent psychoanalysis. He is not afraid to appear simplistic, and asks psychoanalysts to focus on the essential: not to lose sight of the purpose of the treatment and its strengths. Through rich and almost always surprising formulations, he communicates with readers in a simple and direct way – as if he were also listening there –, leaving a strong impression on them of how beautiful and profound psychoanalysis is.” Marco Antonio Coutinho Jorge (PGPSA/UERJ)