The Power Tactics of Jesus Christ and Other Essays

Rating:
Summary: Still fresh and sparkling
Review: The title essay, "The Power Tactics of Jesus Christ," is the most obviously shocking work in this collection. Haley proposes one of the most original interpretations of the Bible I've seen: a psychological analysis of Jesus' actions, assuming only that he was a man trying to build a mass movement to topple a power structure. He discusses the "surrender tactic" of turning the other cheek, which is actually a subtle way of forcing one's enemy to capitulate (although he notes that although Jesus instructed his disciples on the value of this tactic, he never used it himself.) I won't spoil the other revelations; suffice to say that Haley grounds all of his conclusions on the literal text of the Bible. His writing is lucid and full of wry humor. Other essays include "The Art of Being a Schizophrenic" and "The Art of Being a Failure as a Therapist". He takes potshots at the new paradigm of drugging mentally patients until "their eyeballs float and they are unsure of what is up and what is down," and he gently mocks the pompousness of the erstwhile psychoanalytic community. During their meetings: "Attempting to outdo one another in explanations of the bizarre insides of patients, each speaker is constantly interrupted by shouts from the back of the hall such as, 'Not at all! You're confusing an id impulse with a weak ego boundary!' or 'Heaven help your patients if you call THAT cathexis!' Even the most alert analyst soon develops an oceanic feeling as he gets lost in flurries of energy theories, libidinal drives, instinctual forces, and super ego barriers." Haley has an incisive mind, is not afraid to poke fun at himself, and this book reveals him as one of those "kindly, benign humanists" of analysts that he admires so much.

Rating:
Summary: Power Tactics Of Jesus Christ and Other Assays...
Review: This deceivingly small book is very profound, and impacts professionals and Scholars alike, leaving the Psychoanalysis student to a precarious decision: Should I act on What I Just Read? Certainly Top Honors go to Power Tactics, since this book is a compilation of loosly associated Essays, with a distinct Psychoanalitic Focus, and depicts the life of Christ, from Charirside, and analyses "historical" data as well as Bible quotations, that when interpreted from a Psychoanalytic point of view, the author, makes interesting observations and explanations while exploring Christ's behaviour and responses, which effectively takes him, (Or Mr. Haley would have us believe)through the self-imposed role of Trial and later Immolation. Deductions are similar to those of the Bible, but the "Motivation" as I understood from the author is a Formula for Revolution. The last essay in this book, Entitled "The Art Of Being a Schizophrenic" is particularly interesting reading, and gives an insight into a Chronic, Mental Illness that can have such an impact on the family, Community, and Society at large. A difficult book made easy, thanks to the elocuence of Dr. Haley. and I believe any College student or Mental Health Professional will benefit from his insights. Have read it several times, and would like to acquire an original Harcover, if it was ever published.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing connection between Theology (Christianity) and Psych
Review: This excellent little book, is composed of several chapters, most appear to only have a superficial relationship with the topic, only to realize at the end, the possible implications of following behaviour as Christ did two millenia ago. This is interpreted by the author, pointing correlations with the esscence of Freudian Psychoanalisis, the author skillfully interpreting Christ's behaviour before crucifixion, in a Psychoanalytic interpretation, and the intentional maneuvers that gave Christ an advantage over his Roman captors. This in turn, reveals amazing insights for Contemporary Judeo-Christian philosophy, and meshes seamlessly with the topics, offering Psychoanalytic theoretical relations, and the impact such behaviour would have in current society, as described in the last Chapter: "The Art of Being Schizophrenic". Each chapter is an excellent small story that stands on its own merit. However, to appreciate this thought provoking book, it is necessary to have an open mind as well as the ability to discern nuances otherwise lost in obscure religious rhetoric.