Young Man Luther

Rating:
Summary: Historical psychosocial analysis of Martin Luther
Review: This book is Erik Erikson's posthumous analysis of the life of Martin Luther (of Protestant Reformation fame) based on Erikson's psychosocial theory of development. While this book is a very interesting application of EE's theory, psychoanalyzing an individual after they're dead using only historical records raises serious methodological concerns. Regardless, the book gives interesting insights into what MIGHT have occurred in Martin Luther's psyche, and what brought him to the place where he altered the course of human (at least western) history. However, EE leaves little room for the possibility that religious experiences actually occur,that Martin Luther's religious experiences can be explained by something outside an arrest in his psychosocial development. To balance out his somewhat areligious perspective, Roland Bainton's "Here I Stand" is a good companion. (Bainton was a Quaker who taught at Yale until he passed away in I believe the 1970s). It would be unfortunate to get the life history of a religious figure only from a the point of view of a non-religious person (I believe EE was either agnostic or an atheist).

In sum, I found this book is most interesting and useful as a window into a EE's application of his own theory (which is fascinating), rather than a biography of Martin Luther.

Rating:
Summary: Music to my ears!
Review: This is a faboulous book chronicling the early career of a musical genius. He gave the American public so many songs that have formed the soundtrack to my life as well as so many others. Luther Vandross is truly a national treasure and with this book he will take his rightfull place in American history.

Rating:
Summary: A STUDY IN PSYCHOANALYSIS AND HISTORY - NOT A BIO.
Review: THIS IS NOT A BIOGRAPHY, AS THE TITLE MAKES CLEAR. A PREVIOUS REVIEWER COMPLAINS ABOUT IT'S LACK AS A BIOGRAPHY. THIS IS A MISPLACED CRITICISM OF ONE OF THE MOST TRENCHANT CASE STUDIES EVER WRITTEN USING HISTORICAL INFO ON THE ONE HAND & THE PSYCHOANALYTICAL MODEL OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OTHER. IT IS NOT A STUDY OF THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE EITHER - ALSO A CRITICISM AIMED AT THE BOOK. PROBABLY BECAUSE LUTHER HAS BEEN ADOPTED AS THE 'FOUNDER' OF A RELIGIOUS SECT AND PLAYED A CONTROVERSIAL ROLE IN THE INTERNECINE WAR BEING WAGED WITHIN ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN HIS TIME. INDISCRIMINATIVE CRITICS FOIST THEIR OWN RELIGIOUS BAGGAGE ONTO THE BOOK, SO READER'S SHOULD PAY HEED TO THE AUTHOR'S INTENT. THIS IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION AND IT IS NOT A BIOGRAPHY. IT IS A MASTERFUL STUDY IN PSYCHOANALYTICAL TERMS OF AN AGGRESSIVE PLAYER IN ONE OF THE KEY CONTESTS IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY. SOME THINK HE WON AND SOME THINK HE LOST. ERIKSON'S ARELIGIOUS FOCUS IS NOT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE CONTEST, IT IS ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS LUTHER GOES THROUGH, USING THE PSYCHOANALYTICAL MODEL AS A DESCRIPTIVE DEVICE. A FIRST CLASS STUDY OF ITS KIND!