- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd; New edition edition (1 Jun 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0416200443
- ISBN-13: 978-0416200447
- Product Dimensions: 20 x 12.6 x 1.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 200,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
'Winnie-the-Pooh lived in the forest all by himself under the name of Sanders and he had the name over the door in gold letters.' Why Sanders and why gold letters? Is the first letter of his title, which is hidden by the doorbell an M for Mr or a D for Doctor? Might not the gold letters stand for the brass plate of a physician or a psychotherapist? Discover the answers to the author's hypothesis that Pooh is none other than a super-psychologist.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The more you know about psychological theories and Winnie-the-Pooh, the more you will enjoy this book. Dr. Williams blasts away with tongue-in-cheek satire aimed at the psychologist's belief that everything that is said, thought, dreamed, and done has many layers of significance. Unfortunately, that approach means that your enjoyment will be modest if your knowledge is correspondingly limited in either area. If you know little about psychology and have not read Winnie-the-Pooh, you may not get most of the humor in the book.
In Freud-like fashion, Dr. Williams begins by descrbing the case for Winnie-the-Pooh being a super psychologist. The thrust of this argument is that Winnie employs every method ever recommended by any psychologist or psychoanalyst somewhere in his fictional adventures. In fact, he often combines them in a single fictional encounter.
The book then recounts seven cases and Winnie's role in them.
Case 1 -- Pooh Cures Christopher Robin of Arktophobia (fear of bears)
Case 2 -- Pooh Assists Piglet to Mature
Case 3 -- Pooh at His Most Eclectic with Tigger
Case 4 -- The Problem with Rabbit
Case 5 -- Parenting: Kanga and Roo
Case 6 -- Wol's Problems with Communication
Case 7 -- Eeyore: A Case of Classical Depression
The cases are written up like Freud's with the exception that they are illustrated with many drawings from the original Pooh stories.
As an example of the approach, the book Winnie-the-Pooh opens with a reference to his living under the name of Sanders. That is never mentioned again. Dr. Williams provides a lengthy argument in favor of this meaning that Winnie-the-Pooh is describing himself as the Sand man, the bringer of dreams. This is an indication of his role as psychotherapist.
In the famous story where Winnie eats too much honey and cannot get out of the hole in the tree, Dr. Williams reinterprets this as Winnie-the-Pooh making an example of himself to discourage others from overeating rather than using aversion therapy on them.
To put this prescience into context, Dr. Williams points out that the Pooh stories date in the 1920s. In the text, he finds "frequent anticipation of theories and practices which more plodding psychologists arrived at much later."
I don't know about you, but I didn't think much about Jung when I read Winnie-the-Pooh. Obviously, the references were too subtle for me.
Those who have experienced psychotherapy will probably find humor in the observations made about Winnie-the-Pooh that they may have heard applied to themselves. Could the observations be equally apt?
This book is best enjoyed by a roaring fire on a cold night with a warmed snifter of brandy, and savored slowly.
After you have finished the book, you might consider the many instances where novels do show ways to solve psychological problems through their fictional developments. Could it be that we can use fiction to be our own therapist? Or, is someone else the therapist? If someone gave you the book, perhaps they are the therapist. If so, is the author the propounder of the theory . . . or is the character?
See the possibilities for humor in pomposity everywhere!
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The most pathetic error of an art critic is not that he is wrong or misunderstands a work of art, but that he understands a work of art for which he has no true feelings for... Ramon Gaya
John Tyerman Williams sumptuous journey through winnie-the-poohs role as supreme psychologist is remarkable, entertaining and enlightening. Penned by an artist who has absolute feeling and compassion for his subjects, this book is an effortless and rewarding read. Irrespective of your knowledge of Jungian typology, Behavioural therapy, Gestalt psychology, Mr Williams guides us on a charming path, with sensual prose and profound analysis. This is one of those books I know I shall re-read with pleasure through the years.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Those of us who enjoy the happy world of Pooh and the hundred acre wood have never realized that the peace and harmony that reigns is the work of Winnie the Pooh. Author John Tyerman Williams reveals that Winnie the Pooh is a Super-Psychotherapist. Quietly and unobtrusively, Pooh sorts out the problems of his friends, so that Piglet learns not to be timid - and eventually becomes a hero; xenophobic Rabbit learns to love strangers; Tigger learns social skills; and even Eeyore finds the way out of depression. This clever, witty book is a delight - and as a psychologist myself, I can confirm that Pooh's skills are properly based on theory, though certainly amazing!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pooh and the Psychogists
Can't argue with any of the above reviews. Professor Michell says in the first review, (and in my opinion rightly) "The more you know about psychological theories and... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2009 by Paul
Pooh (Super-Psychologist)
Wow! I only started reading this book yesterday and already it's opened my eyes to the true genius of A.A. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2003 by J. Pappenheim
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