Touching upon the most sensitive nuances of the analytic encounter, Psychoanalytic Objects Near and Far combines a far-reaching theoretical manifesto with an intimate clinical journal to express curiosity, skepticism and love towards the psychoanalytic clinic, theory and history.
Basic concepts and controversies that often become a conceptual ivory tower receive here a new and fresh vitality from the perspective of an experienced clinician, scholar and teacher, all while crossing the boundary of theoretical fantasy. While holding theory as central to the clinical act, Rolnik does not see it as a self-sufficient philosophy, detached from the free spirit of psychoanalysis as a practice and ethics. Rolnik has no need for iconoclasm. He is committed to the curative speech – his patients’ and his own – as well as receptiveness to the unconscious space in the most Freudian sense of the word.
This volume will be of great interest to analysts in practice and in training, and to any reader interested in the analytic process.
1. Introduction: Calm throughout the storm
2. Unconscious and the death drive
3. Technique and analytic setting
4. Analytic presence
5. Desire and resistance
6. Listening and containment
7. Transference, enactment and countertransference
8. From listening to interpretation
9. Still from listening to interpretation
10. The carp of truth
11. The psychoanalytic object
12. Vacations, separations and endings
13. Psychoanalysis as a worldview
Biography
Eran J. Rolnik is a board-certified psychiatrist, historian and training and supervising psychoanalyst at the Israel Psychoanalytic Society and the Frankfurt Psychoanalytic Institute (IPA/DPV). He is the author, contributor and editor of numerous books, including Freud in Zion: Psychoanalysis and the Making of Modern Jewish Identity (Routledge).
“This book was written by a clinician who is, at the same time, a historian of psychoanalysis and one of the most brilliant thinkers in political psychoanalytic thought. Its chapters, which draw from broad and rich worlds of thought and culture, bear the stamp of the unique historical moment they were written alongside the stamp of generations of psychoanalytic thinking: the immediacy and freshness of free associations alongside uncompromising theoretical and clinical rigor.
This is the literary journey of a writer who is, first and foremost, a reader. Therefore, his writing is always a fascinating correspondence, both with the generations that preceded him and with the generations to come. I can't think of a more crucial or enjoyable book through which one can truly recognize the value of psychoanalysis.”Dana Amir, PhD, training and supervising analyst, Israel Psychoanalytic Society; professor, head of the interdisciplinary doctoral program in psychoanalysis, Haifa University; author, Psychoanalysis as Radical Hospitality (Routledge, 2024)
“Eran Rolnik builds upon his previous creative and innovative writings and sustains his unique voice and perspective in this new—searching and visionary—work."
Christopher Bollas PhD, psychoanalyst and former professor of English; author, Meaning and Melancholia (Routledge, 2018)
“I have been familiar with Eran Rolnik’s important contributions to psychoanalysis since reading his 2008 paper about Paula Heimann’s analysis. In addition to this early writing, Rolnik treats the reader to his impressive breadth of knowledge that includes his wonderful 2012 book, Freud in Zion: Psychoanalysis and the Making of Modern Jewish Identity. His new book, Psychoanalytic Objects Near and Far:Talking Cure introduces the reader to Rolnik’s skills as a practicing psychoanalyst, teacher, historian, and creative clinician and to his skillful analytic treatment. This is an engaging work that analytic clinicians and thinkers will surely find fascinating and relevant to current analytic thinking.”
Lawrence J. Brown, PhD, training and supervising psychoanalyst, Boston Psychoanalytic Institute; author, Transformational Processes in Clinical Psychoanalysis (Routledge, 2018)
PRAISE FOR THE GERMAN EDITION
“Every psychoanalyst, in the course of his clinical experience, develops his own theory of treatment. One seldom encounters a book which portrays the practicing analysts’ clinical experience as vividly and masterfully as this book by Eran Rolnik. While reading, one is drawn into Rolnik’s analytical treatment room and the way he deals with his patients’ problems. We are invited to trace his use of concepts and theories and find ourselves caught up in an internal dialogue with the author, which stimulates us to reflect and further develop our own analytic practice. An extraordinary book!”
Werner Bohleber, PhD, training and supervising analyst, German Psychoanalytic Association; former editor PSYCHE; author, Destructiveness, Intersubjectivity and Trauma (Routledge, 2010)
„Man begegnet dem Autor des Buchs in lebendigem Austausch mit bedeuten- den Vordenkern der Psychoanalyse wie Freud, Bion, Klein, Winnicott, etc. Und es ist faszinierend mitzuerleben, wie sich aus der Vielstimmig- keit dieser inneren Gespräche die eigene Stimme des Autors herausbil- det. Rolnik lässt uns an der Arbeit seines »inneren Analytikers« teilhaben und regt damit unsere eigene Arbeit an – eine Arbeit, die ganz wesentlich zur Bildung der psychoanalytischen Identität beiträgt […] Dieses anregende Buch ist fast wie ein guter Roman zu lesen. Man freundet sich mit den Figuren an und freut sich darauf, weiter mit ihnen in Kontakt zu sein und sich von ihrer Geschichte überraschen zu lassen. Ein bisschen ist es auch wie bei der Musik Johann Sebastian Bachs: Der Fortgang seiner Melodien ist nie voraussehbar, die folgenden Töne kom- men immer überraschend. Dass mir Vergleiche aus Literatur und Musik einfallen, ist sicherlich eine Reaktion auf die Kreativität des Autors, der das Buch seinen Studenten und Patienten widmet.״ - Annegret Wittenberger, PSYCHE
"We encounter the author in lively exchanges with important pioneers of psychoanalysis such as Freud, Bion, Klein, Winnicott, etc. And it is fascinating to experience how the author's own voice emerges from the polyphony of these inner conversations. Rolnik lets us participate in the work of his “inner analyst” and thus stimulates our own work – work that contributes significantly to the formation of the psychoanalytic identity […] This stimulating book can be read almost like a good novel. You become friends with the characters and look forward to continuing to be in contact with them and being surprised by their story. It's a bit like the music of Johann Sebastian Bach: the progression of his melodies is never predictable, the following notes always come as a surprise. The fact that comparisons from literature and music come to mind can certainly be attributed to the creativity of the author, who dedicates the book to his students and patients.״ - Annegret Wittenberger, PSYCHE, January 2025
