Holding Pattern: How Communication Prevents Intimacy in Adults

Rating:
Summary: Karen Buzzard's "Holding Pattern"
Review: I found this book in "self help" of all places but I guess it's kind of appropriate because it deals with issues often considered too frivolous for "serious psychology." Ms. Buzzard pulls together very diverse strands of psychological theory and case studies of real people struggling with how to find intimacy in mid-life. The result is just plain good psychology -- substantial reference to the wisdom of Freud, Erikson, and many, many other practitioners along with a very compassionate and insightful look at how people struggle, and often fail, to overcome the family stuff that acts a bit like a black hole on the human spirit. I'm sure some will criticize this book as being too traditional in its explanation of some people's inability to form meaningful relationships. But this isn't psycho-babble. Ms. Buzzard acknowledges the powerful pull of the family and the deficiencies of "not good enough" mothers and fathers, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME citing how attitude and basic optimism will always move one more quickly along towards a better life. So if you're looking for a quick fix you won't find it here.