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Listen Little Man: A Journey Through the Life and Ideas of Wilhelm Reich

Blake Kennedy

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Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who developed a number of controversial theories, including the idea that sexual repression leads to fascism. His book, Listen Little Man, is a collection of essays that explore his ideas about the relationship between psychology and politics.

Listen, Little Man!

by Wilhelm Reich

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Language	:	English
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Print length	:	144 pages

Reich was born in 1897 in Dobrzyn, Austria-Hungary. He studied medicine at the University of Vienna, where he became a follower of Sigmund Freud. After graduating, Reich worked as a psychoanalyst in Vienna and Berlin. In the 1930s, he became involved in the political left, and he was eventually forced to flee Germany after the Nazis came to power. He moved to the United States in 1939, where he continued to work as a psychoanalyst and writer.

Reich's work has been highly controversial. Some critics have accused him of being a quack and a charlatan. Others have praised him as a visionary thinker who was ahead of his time. Despite the controversy, Reich's work has had a significant influence on the development of psychology and psychotherapy.

Reich's Theory of Sexual Repression

Reich's most famous theory is that sexual repression leads to fascism. He believed that the suppression of sexual impulses creates a reservoir of energy that can be channeled into political violence. Reich argued that fascism is a form of mass neurosis that is caused by the sexual repression of the masses.

Reich's theory of sexual repression was based on his clinical work with patients. He observed that many of his patients who had difficulty expressing their sexuality also had a tendency to be authoritarian and intolerant. Reich believed that this was because sexual repression creates a sense of frustration and anger that can be easily redirected into political violence.

Reich's theory of sexual repression has been criticized by many scholars. Some critics have argued that there is no evidence to support the claim that sexual repression leads to fascism. Others have argued that Reich's theory is based on a narrow and simplistic view of human nature.

Reich's Political Activism

Reich was a lifelong political activist. He was a member of the Austrian Communist Party in the 1920s, and he later became involved in the anti-fascist movement in Germany. After he moved to the United States, Reich continued to be active in political causes. He was a supporter of the civil rights movement, and he also spoke out against the Vietnam War.

Reich's political activism often brought him into conflict with the authorities. He was arrested several times, and he was also subjected to harassment and surveillance by the FBI. In 1956, Reich was convicted of violating the Food and Drug Administration's regulations on the distribution of his orgone accumulators. He was sentenced to two years in prison, and he died in prison in 1957.

Reich's Legacy

Wilhelm Reich was a controversial figure, but he was also a brilliant and original thinker. His work has had a significant influence on the development of psychology and psychotherapy, and his ideas continue to be debated today.

Reich's legacy is a complex one. He was a brilliant thinker who made important contributions to the field of psychology. However, he was also a controversial figure whose work has been criticized by many scholars. Despite the controversy, Reich's work continues to be influential, and his ideas continue to be debated today.