New Books in Psychoanalysis Adam Phillips, "On Giving Up" (FSG, 2024)
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Jul 1, 2024 
Psychoanalyst Adam Phillips delves into the complexities of giving up, exploring its intersection with desire, control, and the concept of the true self. He challenges societal assumptions, discussing the importance of knowing when to persevere and when to let go. The conversation also touches on relationships, dependencies, and the quest for meaning in a world of endless choices.
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Midlife Crisis Reveals True Wants
- Midlife crisis reflects a reconfiguration of unconscious wants and questioning cultural brainwashing of desires.
- It's a moment to explore what wants truly belong to oneself versus cultural influences.
Loyalty Makes Giving Up Hard
- Loyalty to ideologies makes giving up internally challenging, often harder than external decisions.
- People struggle more with giving up ideas than external realities because of internal commitments.
Psychoanalysis: Practice vs. Personal Commitment
- Few analytic practitioners give up psychoanalysis as a practice though many reconsider its personal relevance.
- This reflects ambivalence and the challenge of deciding to continue or leave foundational commitments.