Wild Thoughts Searching for a Thinker: A Clinical Application of W. R. Bion’s Theories

Wild Thoughts Searching for a Thinker: A Clinical Application of W. E. Bion’s Theories uses several of Bion’s contributions to psychoanalytic theory in order to evaluate, from a clinical perspective, “classical” psychoanalytic concepts such as narcissism, transference and countertransference, interpretation, the false self, and the unconscious in its relation to consciousness. In combining Bion’s theory with practical applications and clinical observations, Lopez-Corvo has not only created an interesting and penetrating analysis of Bion’s theories that provides a wonderful introduction to the world of Bion; he has also placed Bion’s theories into theoretical and analytical context and illuminated the myriad ways in which the theories of W. E. Bion may be used within psychoanalytic practice. Freud, Klein and Bion have provided the most relevant and substantial contributions to psychoanalytical theory and praxis. Klein was very much Freudian and Bion was both. There is undoubtedly a progressive epistemological evolution in their creativity; it will be similar to observe the same phenomenon by changing the objective of a microscope from a lower to a higher resolution power. It will be of lesser advantage for the understanding of the mind, to disregard this analogy and to accept as true that psychoanalysis, like religion, represents different beliefs. There is only one mind, but different viewers. Wild Thoughts Searching for a Thinker is essentially a clinical book that explores the connections between some of Bion's novel theories and those from Classical Psychoanalysis, mainly contributions from Freud, Klein and Winnicott. It also represents a substantial endeavour to make Bion not only more accessible to readers, but also and very important, to see his theories at work, in direct practical use during the here and now interaction throughout the consulting hour.