36 pages 1 hour read

Sigmund Freud

On Dreams

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1901

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In On Dreams, Freud presents an abridged version of his seminal work, The Interpretation of Dreams, outlining the psychoanalytic theory that dreams symbolize unconscious desires and wish fulfillment. The book explores the processes of condensation, censorship, and displacement in dreams to reveal repressed concepts. It emphasizes the importance of analyzing manifest content to uncover latent meanings, asserting that dreams express erotic desires and offering a guide for psychoanalytic interpretation. Freud discusses different types of dreams, dream displacement, repression, and how dreams reflect an individual's psychological makeup. The text addresses themes such as repression and unconscious desires, including erotic desires.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

On Dreams by Sigmund Freud is regarded as an insightful exploration of dream interpretation, breaking down complex ideas into accessible content. Critics appreciate its pioneering approach to psychoanalysis, though some find it overly simplistic compared to Freud’s other works. The book's historical significance is well-acknowledged.

Who should read this

Who Should Read On Dreams?

A reader fascinated by psychology, the subconscious, and dream analysis would enjoy Freud's On Dreams. Comparable to admirers of Jung's Dreams or LaBerge's Lucid Dreaming, they are curious about the deeper meanings behind dreams and appreciate foundational psychoanalytic theories.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Psychology

Philosophy

Love / Sexuality

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Identity: Mental Health

Genre

Education

French Literature

Psychology