What Lacan Said About Women: A Psychoanalytic Study (Contemporary Theory Series)

I have now been reading a series of books of pupils of Lacan, since it has been too frustrating and time consuming to read translation of his works.Understanding the human condition has been a lifetime occupation for me and, now at a mature age, Lacan's ideas seemed to seduce me with the potential of new inner dimensions. I am glad, that I did not try to crack this "nut" earlier in my life, because -honestly- you need to have a deep self-understanding to be able to follow his arguments (or better the interpretations of his arguments in my case). Unless for example it begins to dawn on you, that you are completely embedded in language and only live THROUGH language you will not be able to understand what he and people who interpret him are saying. This stage of understanding comes only, when you have the capacity to regularly "fall out of language" into silence, and observe so to speak the underbelly of your own prison cell. It is in this context, that I explain to me the declaration of another reviewer: "if you aren't enamoured of declarative sentences that say nothing, you'll hate it".Personally I entirely enjoyed the reading of Colette Soler's book which has been quite transformative for me. She has a very unique and precise way of explaining herself and life and is together with another pupil of Lacan's -Paul Verhaeghe- one of my favorites. But leave this desert for last!

Very communicative and helpful seller. Thanks!

This review won't convince the converted, but for others, a word of warning. The Other Press is making a career of slapping together bits and pieces of blather from noted Lacanians, no matter how bad, and putting a nice cover on it. This book is no different. Even if you agree with Soler's points of view, the basic fact is that this is a shoddy book. Patched together from lectures and talks here and there, a lot of it is familiar, it is slapped haphazardly together, and there is no unity or cohesion to the book. There are essays by Soler in better collections.In terms of the content, well, if you aren't enamoured of declarative sentences that say nothing, you'll hate it. Soler is the master of the bland, empty statement masquerading as brilliance. I think the emporer has no clothes.Her insights about Lacan and women? A combination of allusions, a lot of opinions, constant references to "the clinic" that are never followed through, very quick glosses on some diagrams, and a lot of quoting of some of Lacan and Freud's ideas that add absolutely nothing to the field. You may find something of interest here; I think there is no substance. You are much better off reading what Lacan said about women yourself.Another poor offering from the Other Press.

I found this book very useful and stimulating--beautifully writen and very well translated. It condenses all of Lacan's remarks on femininity and illustrates the concepts with clarity showing a pedagogical gift that does not sacrifice in rigor. She sheds light on statements like The Woman does not exist and gives new meaning to the Freudian idea of feminine masochism. She is brilliant when she suggests an ethic of sexual difference. She deftly moves from the psychic realm to the social context and offers an original contribution to current debates on sex and gender. Do not miss this excellent book by one of the most distinguished thinkers in the Lacanian field today who regales us with a book that is both accesible and sophisticated.