Margaret Mahler: A biography of the psychoanalyst

 Author's Summary

Margaret Mahler was from a young age intrigued by the theories of Sigmund Freud and Hungarian psychoanalysts such as Sandor Ferenzci, with whom she became acquainted while a student in Budapest. Forced to flee Europe and rising anti-Semitism, Margaret and her husband, Paul, came to the United States in 1938. It was after this move that Mahler performed her most significant research and developed concepts such as the ground-breaking theory of separation-individuation, an idea which was given credence by Mahler's own relationship with her father.

This volume details the life and work of Margaret Mahler focusing on her life's ambition--her psychoanalytical work.  Her experiences with the Philadelphia Institute and her definitive research through the Masters Children's Clinic are also discussed.

USA Book News Best Books Award Finalist  and Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award Finalist

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MWSA Review

From a young age, Margaret Mahler was intrigued by the theories of Sigmund Freud and Hungarian psychoanalysts such as Sandor Ferenzci, with whom she became acquainted while a student in Budapest.  Forced to flee Europe and rising anti-Semitism, Margaret and her husband, Paul, came to the United States in 1938.  It was after this move that Mahler performed her most significant research and developed concepts of separation-individuation, an idea which was given credence by Mahler's own relationship with her father.

This book details the life and work of Margaret Mahler focusing on her life's ambition -- her psychoanalytical work.  Her experiences with the Philadelphia Institute and her research through the Masters Children's Clinic are also discussed.

The book does not paint a pretty picture of Margaret as a person.  She was egotistical, self-centered, and manipulative, deferential and respectful of her superiors and peers, while insensitive, spiteful, and cruel to her employees.  She married later in life and had no children.  The marriage ended in a messy divorce.

During her productive years, she was respected by the psychoanalyst community.  Later her work was dismissed by newer theories.  Her work is now studied to show the growth of the field of study.

The author worked for the doctor and initially got along well with her, especially while working as an unpaid assistant.  Later she too had a falling out and eventually left --very hurt by Margaret.  Margaret died alone without many friends.  She made many people believe she would remember them in her will.  She gave the bulk of her inheritance to the Gray Panther's.

Alma Bond is an outstanding writer with 13 other books to her credit.  The book is thoroughly documented, well edited and footnoted.  The book would find it's best audience in people interested in the history of child psychology, early feminist in the field of medicine, and those interested in stories of survivors of the Holocaust.     

Reviewed by: Buddy Cox (2009)