ABSTRACT

Written by pioneering analyst and creative thinker, James Grotstein, A Beam of Intense Darkness offers a thorough overview and illuminating insight into the often-complex work of W. R. Bion.

This psychoanalytic classic sees Grotstein introduce over 30 key Bionian theories, comprehensively explaining them to the reader before offering his own insight and commentary. Grotstein first encountered Bion as his analysand and, later, as his friend. This book offers a level of insight only possible through such a close relationship, and offers a dialogue between Bion and Grotstein as they delve into the inner workings of the human psyche. Throughout, Grotstein offers his own original thoughts on topics such as projective transidentification, transcendent position and the truth drive.

With a new introduction from Nicola Abel-Hirsch, this book is an essential read for anyone interested in Bion’s work and legacy.

chapter |8 pages

Prelude and prologue

chapter Chapter 1|18 pages

An introduction

chapter Chapter 2|7 pages

What kind of analyst was Bion?

chapter Chapter 3|2 pages

What kind of person was Bion?

chapter Chapter 4|8 pages

Bion's vision

chapter Chapter 5|21 pages

Bion's legacy

chapter Chapter 6|17 pages

Bion's metatheory

chapter Chapter 7|16 pages

Bion on technique

chapter Chapter 8|4 pages

Clinical vignette encompassing Bion's technical ideas

chapter Chapter 10|5 pages

The “Language of Achievement”

chapter Chapter 11|7 pages

Bion's discovery of O

chapter Chapter 12|14 pages

The concept of the “transcendent position”

chapter Chapter 15|4 pages

Lies, “lies”, and falsehoods

chapter Chapter 16|17 pages

The container and the contained

chapter Chapter 18|7 pages

Bion's work with groups

chapter Chapter 19|16 pages

Bion's studies in psychosis

chapter Chapter 20|22 pages

Transformations

chapter Chapter 21|4 pages

Psychoanalytic functions and elements

chapter Chapter 22|4 pages

Points, lines, and circles

chapter Chapter 23|13 pages

The Grid

chapter Chapter 25|31 pages

What does it mean to dream? Bion's theory of dreaming

chapter Chapter 26|15 pages

Dreaming, phantasying, and the “truth instinct”

chapter Chapter 27|3 pages

“Become”

chapter Chapter 28|3 pages

P–S ↔ D

chapter Chapter 29|4 pages

L, H, and K and passion

chapter Chapter 30|4 pages

Faith

chapter Chapter 31|8 pages

Bion's discovery of zero (“no-thing”)

chapter |6 pages

Epilogue