Psychoanalysis and Freudian theories are one of the most interesting aspects of the history of psychology. However, psychoanalytic theory and practice are based on a sea of concepts that are not particularly easy to understand, which makes it difficult for students and those who are curious to get started through books on psychoanalysis.

This selection with recommended books on psychoanalysis is intended to be a help for these people who are hesitant among the many pages that have been written on the subject. At the beginning, books on psychoanalysis are presented in Spanish, and at the end of the article there is an extension with readings in English.

Books on psychoanalysis in Spanish

If you are looking for books on psychoanalysis in Spanish, this selection will be useful. Here you will find a selection of works to get you started.

1. “Introduction to Psychoanalysis” by Sigmund Freud

A work that is among the most important books by Sigmund Freud and that has a special value, as it offers us a vision of the way in which the father of the psychodynamic current understood psychoanalysis. Among its pages are explanations about the Freudian conception of mental disorders, of the unconscious and of the way in which it manifests itself.

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2. “Psychoanalysis: the impossible profession”, by Janet Malcolm

This is one of the books on psychoanalysis that presents this discipline in a more original way. Instead of simply reviewing Freud’s legacy in an academic or encyclopedic tone, this work focuses on the work of a psychoanalyst and the way in which the dialogue with him allows us to learn about his life , training and the connection between what he does and the history of psychoanalysis.

  • If you are interested in reading more about the book, you can access this page.

3. “The Interpretation of Dreams” by Sigmund Freud

One of the oldest books on psychoanalysis written in the decade in which Sigmund Freud finished developing theoretically his first ideas about the unconscious and its role in psychopathology.

The father of psychoanalysis believed that elements belonging to our unconscious are revealed in our dreams, but disguised through a special symbolism. That is why believed that interpreting these dreams was one of the pillars on which therapy could be based , since in this way one could intuit traumas and emotional blockages based on past experiences.

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4. “The Self and the It” by Sigmund Freud

This is one of the most important books on psychoanalysis, since it explains the ego structures: the Ego, the Self and the Overself . For Freud, each of these psychic instances had a role in the moral dimension of our actions and thoughts and served to explain what the defense mechanisms are for and what produces frustration and repression.

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5. “The Black Book of Psychoanalysis”, by Catherine Meyer

Essential reading to know the critiques of psychoanalysis and its status in relation to science as it is currently understood. People who have little knowledge about psychoanalysis will understand what its limitations are from a post-positivist perspective, and those who are more versed in the subject will reflect on the things they had learned before.

  • You can buy it through this link.

6. “Discontent in Culture” by Sigmund Freud

Another of Freud’s most important books on psychoanalysis . In its pages he explains the way in which the individual’s impulses rub against the external pressures coming from the culture according to Freud’s vision.

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7. “Theory and Technique of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy”, by J. Coderch

Anyone who wants to know the practical proposals that have been made from psychoanalysis will find in this book a very complete book. Here the elements that relate all the techniques promoted by psychoanalysts to each other are explained .

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8. “Beyond the Pleasure Principle” by Sigmund Freud

In this book, Freud develops the concepts of life drives and death drives , and an explanation of repetitive and stereotypical behaviour.

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9. “Psychoanalysis within reach of everyone”, by Antoni Talarn

A relatively short and tremendously accessible book about psychoanalysis and the social impact it has had and continues to have. Very useful also for identifying false topics about psychoanalysis.

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10. “Three Essays on Sexual Theory,” by Sigmund Freud

The sexual dimension has a very important role in Freud’s ideas , and this book is a very good way to access his ideas on the subject. The theory of psychosexual development is delineated between its pages.

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More books on psychoanalysis for further learning

If languages are not a problem for you, here you can see some of the most prominent titles to read about psychoanalysis.

11. “Introduction to Psychoanalysis: contemporary Theory and Practice”, by A. Bateman and J. Holmes

One of the best books on psychoanalysis for students . Its relative brevity and the clarity with which it explains the historical journey of psychoanalysis by mixing theory with examples make it one of the best options for having a global vision of the subject.

  • If you’re interested, you can buy it here.

12. “Freud and Beyond” by S. A. Mitchell and M. J. Black

An excellent introductory book to the theory and practice of psychoanalysis and its historical development since Freud’s death. Very suitable to know the way in which psychoanalysis has evolved in the decades after the 1930s.

  • You can get more information about the book by accessing this page.

13.”Beyond Freud: from Individual to Social Psychology” by Erich Fromm

Erich Fromm was one of the most renowned psychoanalysts with a humanistic approach , and in this work he presents part of the journey psychoanalysis took from the original ideas of Sigmund Freud to the point where his disciples began to create different schools within the current of psychodynamics.

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14.”The how-to book for Students of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy”, by S. Bach

A very brief book on psychoanalysis in which the basic concepts for understanding theory and practice are set out clearly and simply.

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15.”Working with Resistance” by Martha Stark

One of the best books on psychoanalysis applied to therapeutic processes; it explains complex concepts in a very accessible way , which makes this work a very interesting option for students.

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16. “Writings”, by Jacques Lacan

One of the options for those people who want to face a challenge. This reference of the current initiated with Freud is known for the difficulty to understand and because, in addition, his way of transmitting ideas was basically through conferences. However, his influence has reached our days.

17. “A clinical introduction to lacanian psychoanalysis” by Bruce Fink

One of the best support books to understand Lacan’s work, throwing a new light on his writings.

  • If you’re interested, you can find it here.

18. “Studies on Hysteria”, by Josef Breuer and S. Freud

A work to explore the beginnings of psychoanalysis from one of the people who most influenced Sigmund Freud and the father of psychoanalysis himself.

  • You can read more about this work by clicking here.

Bonus: “Psychologically Speaking”, by Adrián Triglia, Bertrand Regader and Jonathan García-Allen

It is not a book strictly focused on the world of psychoanalysis, but a general tour through all the schools of psychology, with their teachings, theories and concepts . If you want to have a deep look at authors like Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung or Alfred Adler (but at the same time you want to know other figures like Carl Rogers, Wilhelm Wundt or Albert Bandura), this book is for you.

  • You can buy it here.