New Analyst's Guide to the Galaxy

Antonino Ferro is a Training and Supervising Analyst in the Italian Psychoanalytic Society, of which he is the President, the American Psychoanalytic Association, and the International Psychoanalytical Association. He has been a visiting professor of psychoanalysis in various institutions in Europe, North America, South America and Australia. He received the Sigourney Award in 2007. Luca Nicoli, is a psychologist and psychoanalyst, a member of the Italian Psychoanalytical Society (SPI) and the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA). He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Rivista di Psicoanalisi (Italian Psychoanalytic Journal). His three books are published in Italian: 'Amare senza perdersi' ('Loving Without Losing Ourselves', 2009), 'L'Arte di arrabbiarsi' ('The Art of Angry', 2012), and 'Il Sogno' ('The Dream', 2014).

'The New Analyst's Guide to the Galaxy is perhaps the most engaging, intelligent, refreshingly irreverent, witty discussion of psychoanalytic theory and practice that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The conversation between Nicoli, a relatively new analyst, and Ferro, one of the most highly regarded analysts of our time, moves gracefully between "everyday" clinical matters, such as the analyst's cancellation policy, and large theoretical matters such as the diminishing importance of Freud's work to contemporary analytic thinking and technique. This book is a gem that should not be missed by any analyst, regardless of the number of years he or she has been in practice.'- Thomas H. Ogden, author of Reclaiming Unlived Life: Experiences in Psychoanalysis'I found this guided tour through the celestial realms of contemporary psychoanalysis difficult to put down. The questions posed by Luca Nicoli to Antonino Ferro, the reader's tour guide, lead directly to the cutting-edge controversies in our field - the relevance of Freud, the contribution of Bion, field theory, frequency of sessions, differences between psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, the use of the couch, to name only a few. Ferro's brilliant and innovative thinking illuminates these topics in a way that will stimulate readers to re-consider their own views. Each reader will want to join in the dialogue with Ferro and Nicoli. While the book is designed for the "new" analyst, experienced colleagues will find it just as rewarding.'-Glen O. Gabbard, MD, author of Love and Hate in the Analytic Setting'It is always a pleasure and a source of inspiration to read the many books of Antonino Ferro. This time, however, to use one of his many metaphors, he serves us, jointly with his intelligent young colleague Luca Nicoli, a different and particularly delicious dish. They allow us to participate in a conversation in which Ferro candidly opens his views on psychoanalysis and mainly on his creative and original way of being an analyst. This book makes it clearer why he is one of the very few real innovators of psychoanalysis in our time. I strongly recommend The New Analyst's Guide to the Galaxy to all those readers who look for fresh and stimulating air in our centennial science and art.'-Claudio Laks Eizirik, past president of the International Psychoanalytical Association

• Introduction -- Identity -- The rules of the game -- Beginnings -- Matters of theory -- The road from Freud to Bion -- Travelling light -- The analytic field -- Technical issues -- Dreaming -- Meetings