Seeing in the Dark

In this absorbing book, States explores the relationship between waking experience and dreams, and between dreams and literary creativity. Challenging the classic psychoanalytic view that dreams represent censored wishes, States argues that dreams are nonrepressive, unplanned constructions and that, like art, they are manifestations of a biological need to convert experience into structure. “States is the best writer on dreams since Freud. His engaging and eloquent book continually provokes rethinking of contemporary views of the mind, consciousness, dreaming, and the continuities between dreaming and literature.”-Murray M. Schwartz “Bert State’s Seeing in the Dark is a lively and informative book, which provides an invaluable update on current dream theory…It dreams of a wide readership and I hope it gets one.”-Alec Marsh, Boston Book Review “States writes with such lucidity and charm that it can well be managed by the non-academic reader with plenty of intellectual curiosity.”-Rosemary Dinnage, Times Literary Supplement “This is a well-written and genial book filled with insights into both the nature of dreams and the nature of creativity.“
-Harold Fromm, The Hudson Review “The book has a wonderful essence of its own, as the author weaves humor and intelligence, creating his ‘cubistic’ work…The book is serious and well researched, yet entertaining and fun to read…An important work in dream theory and an asset to collections that incorporate multiple viewpoints. A delightful read.”-Choice