THINKING ABOUT CHILDREN

Winnicott (1896-1971) was a British pediatrician, psychoanalyst, theorist, and clinician renowned for his theories on child development. His Therapeutic Consultations in Child Psychiatry (Basic, 1971) and others are considered standard works. Here, the editors have compiled over 30 of Winnicott's essays originating as lectures, talks, reports, letters, and papers between 1930 and 1970. According to the book's list of original sources, fewer than ten of the essays have been published elsewhere. The wide range of topics, e.g., sleep refusal, delinquents, skin sensation, adoption, and autism, are related to various stages of development from infancy through early adolescence. Written in nontechnical language and addressing several topics, this book treats subjects with less depth than the author's more focused works. A good overview of Winnicott's observations and thinking for libraries with comprehensive collections in psychoanalysis or child development.