Uncovering Lives : The Uneasy Alliance of Biography and Psychology

Psychobiography is often attacked by critics who feel that it trivializes complex adult personalities, "explaining the large deeds of great individuals," as George Will wrote, "by some slight the individual suffered at a tender age--say, 7, when his mother took away a lollipop." Worse yet, some writers have clearly abused psychobiography--for instance, to grind axes from the right (Nancy Clinch on the Kennedy family) or from the left (Fawn Brodie on Richard Nixon)--and others have offered woefully inept diagnoses (such as Albert Goldman's portrait of Elvis Presley as a "split personality" and a "delusional paranoid"). And yet, as Alan Elms argues in Uncovering Lives , in the hands of a skilled practitioner, psychobiography can rival the very best traditional biography in the insights it offers. Elms makes a strong case for the value of psychobiography, arguing in large part from example. Indeed, most of the book features Elms's own fascinating case studies of over a dozen prominent figures, among them Sigmund Freud (the father of psychobiography), B.F. Skinner, Isaac Asimov, L. Frank Baum, Vladimir Nabokov, Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Saddam Hussein, and Henry Kissinger. These profiles make intriguing reading. For example, Elms discusses the fiction of Isaac Asimov in light of the latter's acrophobia (fear of heights) and mild agoraphobia (fear of open spaces)--and Elms includes excerpts from a series of letters between himself and Asimov. He reveals an unintended subtext of The Wizard of Oz --that males are weak, females are strong (think of Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Lion, and the Wizard, versus the good and bad witches and Dorothy herself)--and traces this in part to Baum's childhood heart disease, which kept him from strenuous activity, and to his relationship with his mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage, a distinguished advocate of women's rights. And in a fascinating chapter, he examines the abused childhood of Saddam Hussein, the privileged childhood of George Bush, and the radically different psychological paths that led these two men into the Persian Gulf War. Elms supports each study with extensive research, much of it never presented before--for instance, on how some of the most revealing portions of C.G. Jung's autobiography were deleted in spite of his protests before publication. Along the way, Elms provides much insight into how psychobiography is written. Finally, he proposes clear guidelines for judging high quality work, and offers practical tips for anyone interested in writing in this genre. Written with great clarity and wit, Uncovering Lives illuminates the contributions that psychology can make to biography. Elms's enthusiasm for his subject is contagious and will inspire would-be psychobiographers as well as win over the most hardened skeptics.

psychobiography Is Often Attacked By Critics Who Feel That It Trivializes Complex Adult Personalities, Explaining The Large Deeds Of Great Individuals, As George Will Wrote, By Some Slight The Individual Suffered At A Tender Age—say, 7, When His Mother Took Away A Lollipop. Worse Yet, Some Writers Have Clearly Abused Psychobiography—for Instance, To Grind Axes From The Right (nancy Clinch On The Kennedy Family) Or From The Left (fawn Brodie On Richard Nixon)—and Others Have Offered Woefully Inept Diagnoses (such As Albert Goldman's Portrait Of Elvis Presley As A Split Personality And A Delusional Paranoid). And Yet, As Alan Elms Argues In uncovering Lives, In The Hands Of A Skilled Practitioner, Psychobiography Can Rival The Very Best Traditional Biography In The Insights It Offers.
Elms Makes A Strong Case For The Value Of Psychobiography, Arguing In Large Part From Example. Indeed, Most Of The Book Features Elms's Own Fascinating Case Studies Of Over A Dozen Prominent Figures, Among Them Sigmund Freud (the Father Of Psychobiography), B.f. Skinner, Isaac Asimov, L. Frank Baum, Vladimir Nabokov, Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Saddam Hussein, And Henry Kissinger. These Profiles Make Intriguing Reading. For Example, Elms Discusses The Fiction Of Isaac Asimov In Light Of The Latter's Acrophobia (fear Of Heights) And Mild Agoraphobia (fear Of Open Spaces)—and Elms Includes Excerpts From A Series Of Letters Between Himself And Asimov. He Reveals An Unintended Subtext Of the Wizard Of Oz—that Males Are Weak, Females Are Strong (think Of Scarecrow, Tin Man, The Lion, And The Wizard, Versus The Good And Bad Witches And Dorothy Herself)—and Traces This In Part To Baum's Childhood Heart Disease, Which Kept Him From Strenuous Activity, And To His Relationship With His Mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage, A Distinguished Advocate Of Women's Rights. And In A Fascinating Chapter, He Examines The Abused Childhood Of Saddam Hussein, The Privileged Childhood Of George Bush, And The Radically Different Psychological Paths That Led These Two Men Into The Persian Gulf War. Elms Supports Each Study With Extensive Research, Much Of It Never Presented Before—for Instance, On How Some Of The Most Revealing Portions Of C.g. Jung's Autobiography Were Deleted In Spite Of His Protests Before Publication. Along The Way, Elms Provides Much Insight Into How Psychobiography Is Written. Finally, He Proposes Clear Guidelines For Judging High Quality Work, And Offers Practical Tips For Anyone Interested In Writing In This Genre.
Written With Great Clarity And Wit, uncovering Lives Illuminates The Contributions That Psychology Can Make To Biography. Elms's Enthusiasm For His Subject Is Contagious And Will Inspire Would-be Psychobiographers As Well As Win Over The Most Hardened Skeptics.

Annotation Psychobiography is often attacked by critics who feel that it trivializes complex adult personalities, "explaining the large deeds of great individuals," as George Will wrote, "by some slight the individual suffered at a tender age--say, 7, when his mother took away a lollipop." Worse yet, some writers have clearly abused psychobiography--for instance, to grind axes from the right (Nancy Clinch on the Kennedy family) or from the left (Fawn Brodie on Richard Nixon)--and others have offered woefully inept diagnoses (such as Albert Goldman's portrait of Elvis Presley as a "splitpersonality" and a "delusional paranoid"). And yet, as Alan Elms argues in Uncovering Lives, in the hands of a skilled practitioner, psychobiography can rival the very best traditional biography in the insights it offers. Elms makes a strong case for the value of psychobiography, arguing in large part from example. Indeed, most of the book features Elms's own fascinating case studies of over a dozen prominent figures, among them Sigmund Freud (the father of psychobiography), B.F. Skinner, Isaac Asimov, L. FrankBaum, Vladimir Nabokov, Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Saddam Hussein, and Henry Kissinger. These profiles make intriguing reading. For example, Elms discusses the fiction of Isaac Asimov in light of the latter's acrophobia (fear of heights) and mild agoraphobia (fear of open spaces)--and Elms includesexcerpts from a series of letters between himself and Asimov. He reveals an unintended subtext of The Wizard of Oz--that males are weak, females are strong (think of Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Lion, and the Wizard, versus the good and bad witches and Dorothy herself)--and traces this in part to Baum'schildhood heart disease, which kept him from strenuous activity, and to his relationship with his mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage, a distinguished advocate of women's rights. And in a fascinating chapter, he examines the abused childhood of Saddam Hussein, the privileged childhood of George Bush, and the radically different psychological paths that led these two men into the Persian Gulf War. Elms supports each study with extensive research, much of it never presented before--for instance, on how some of the most revealing portions of C.G. Jung's autobiography were deleted in spite of hisprotests before publication. Along the way, Elms provides much insight into how psychobiography is written. Finally, he proposes clear guidelines for judging high quality work, and offers practical tips for anyone interested in writing in this genre. Written with great clarity and wit, Uncovering Lives illuminates the contributions that psychology can make to biography. Elms's enthusiasm for his subject is contagious and will inspire would-be psychobiographers as well as win over the most hardened skeptics Contents......Page 12 Part One: Why Psychobiography?......Page 14 1. The Psychologist as Biographer......Page 16 2. Starting from Scratch......Page 32 Part Two: The Heart of the Theorist......Page 46 3. Freud as Leonardo......Page 48 4. The Auntification of C. G. Jung......Page 64 5. Allport Meets Freud and the Clean Little Boy......Page 84 6. Skinner's Dark Year and Walden Two......Page 98 Part Three: Into the Fantastic......Page 114 7. The Thing from Inner Space: John W. Campbell, Robert E. Howard, and Cordwainer Smith......Page 116 8. Darker Than He Thought: The Psychoanalysis of Jack Williamson......Page 130 9. Asimov as Acrophobe......Page 144 10. The Mother of Oz: L. Frank Baum......Page 155 11. Nabokov Contra Freud......Page 175 Part Four: Beneath Politics......Page 198 12. Carter and Character......Page 200 13. The Counterplayers: George Bush and Saddam Hussein......Page 219 14. From Colonel House to General Haig......Page 233 Part Five: Other Methods, Other Lives......Page 252 15. Going Beyond Scratch......Page 254 Notes......Page 270 Bibliography......Page 302 B......Page 318 C......Page 319 E......Page 320 G......Page 321 I......Page 322 L......Page 323 N......Page 324 R......Page 325 S......Page 326 W......Page 327 Z......Page 328 Psychobiography is often attacked by critics who feel that it trivializes complex adult personalities, "explaining the large deeds of great individuals," as George Will wrote, "by some slight the individual suffered at a tender age - say, seven, when his mother took away a lollipop." Worse yet, some writers have clearly abused psychobiography - for instance, to grind axes from the right (Nancy Clinch on the Kennedy family) or from the left (Fawn Brodie on Richard Nixon) - and others have offered woefully inept diagnoses (such as Albert Goldman's portrait of Elvis Presley as a "split personality" and a "delusional paranoid"). This work argues that psychobiography can rival traditional biography in the insights it offers. Elms makes a case for the value of psychobiography, arguing in part from his own case studies of over a dozen prominent figures. It also offers tips for anyone interested in writing in this genre.