Review of Transforming narcissism: Reflections on empathy, humor, and expectations. Vol. 28: Psychoanalytic inquiry book series.

Reviews the book, Transforming narcissism: Reflections on empathy, humor, and expectations. Vol. 28: Psychoanalytic inquiry book series by Frank M. Lachmann (see record 2008-01083-000). This book is a welcome addition to the conversation on working with self-pathology. Lachmann brings a personal, conversational voice to the dialogue; there is much here to benefit students and seasoned clinicians alike. It is not a treatment manual for narcissism, but rather Lachmann’s own transformational dialogue with Heinz Kohut. Using Kohut’s (1966) article “Forms and Transformations of Narcissism” as a starting point, Lachmann elaborates Kohut’s contention that archaic narcissism is transformed through psychotherapy into empathy, humor, creativity, wisdom, and acceptance of our transience. He focuses on the first three elements as a means as much as a product of transformation in therapy, and the latter two elements are discussed as hopeful outcomes of the transformational process therapy engenders. Although there are limitations in terms of this book’s utility as a treatment guide for interventions with patients with narcissistic disorders, as a series of reflections on transformational processes it is often quite compelling. Lachmann the therapist advocates using empathy, humor, and creativity, not to try to impress or demonstrate his cleverness, but rather as bridge to transformational intimacy with his patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)