Discovery of the Unconscious

This book by Henri Ellenberger was genuinely recommended once in the episodes we index, on Andrew Huberman. The people who vouched for it on air: Jordan Peterson. It comes up in conversations about addiction & recovery, brain health, focus & dopamine, motivation & discipline. Every quote below is verbatim, attributed, and linked to the exact second it was said. Sourced expert opinion, not medical advice.

In this study of the history of dynamic psychiatry, Ellenberger provides an account of the early history of psychology covering such figures as Franz Anton Mesmer, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Pierre Janet. The work has become a classic, and has been credited with demolishing the myth of Freud's originality and encouraging scholars to question the scientific validity of psychoanalysis. Critics have questioned the reliability of some of Ellenberger's judgments. [...] Ellenberger shows that Freud was dependent on earlier writers, especially Janet.

• “there's a great book called discovery of the unconscious which was written by a man named hre elenberger ... it is the best analysis of Freud Jung and Adler that's ever been written by a lot”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “there's a great book ... it is the best analysis of Freud Jung and Adler that's ever been written”
  Jordan Peterson · Huberman Lab · Dec 202403:14:32

  Said during "How to Best Guide Your Life Decisions & Path | Dr. Jordan Peterson". The episode features Dr. Jordan Peterson: Clinical psychologist, former Harvard and University of Toronto professor, and bestselling author of '12 Rules for Life' and 'We Who Wrestle with God.' One of the most influential and polarizing public intellectuals of the era, known for blending psychology, mythology, and religion. Huberman and Jordan Peterson fuse neuroscience and biblical story to argue that responsibility, adventure, and aiming upward are the same path to a meaningful life.