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jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
The human mind is an incredibly fascinating thing and no two minds ever perceive the world alike, despite the similarities they may exhibit to the contrary. The Inkblots: Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test, and the Power of Seeing by Damion Searls explores the life and work of Rorschach, providing insight into the role he played in his field.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Rich in researched and detailed information and illustrations to demonstrate, this text paints a picture (if you'll pardon the expression) of Rorschach's life and the role his work played in the development of psychiatry and psychology that we've become familiar with today. Describing his life and the events that shaped Rorschach, which in turn helped to shape the iconic test that he created, provided a greater insight into and appreciation for the complex process by which society evolves and grows. While Rorschach's short life meant he didn't live to see the many iterations and uses of his creation, the ways in which it has been applied and modified throughout its history was enlightening to read about and begs the question of what Rorschach would think about its development.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Rich in researched and detailed information and illustrations to demonstrate, this text paints a picture (if you'll pardon the expression) of Rorschach's life and the role his work played in the development of psychiatry and psychology that we've become familiar with today. Describing his life and the events that shaped Rorschach, which in turn helped to shape the iconic test that he created, provided a greater insight into and appreciation for the complex process by which society evolves and grows. While Rorschach's short life meant he didn't live to see the many iterations and uses of his creation, the ways in which it has been applied and modified throughout its history was enlightening to read about and begs the question of what Rorschach would think about its development.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
mindthebook's review against another edition
3.0
Äntli-bloody-ligen utläst, och då är ändå Hermann Rorschach en av mina psykologihjältar. Så i överkant ordrik att ett kapitel i taget är lagom. Bra urval av foton, illustrationer och exempel ur populärkulturen.
schwarmgiven's review against another edition
4.0
Freud was a Word Person
Interpretation is not Imagination.
Other stuff like that--lots of information on the struggle to keep the test in use, lots of stuff on the Nazi' tests, lots of stuff on Rorschach--it is a good read with a lot of interesting details.
Jung is a jerk.
very glad I read this.
Interpretation is not Imagination.
Other stuff like that--lots of information on the struggle to keep the test in use, lots of stuff on the Nazi' tests, lots of stuff on Rorschach--it is a good read with a lot of interesting details.
Jung is a jerk.
very glad I read this.
camilleisreading24's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting!! For someone without much background knowledge in the history of psychology and famous psych studies, I found this very readable and informative. The first half of the book is a biography of Hermann Rorschach, and describes his experiments and how he developed the ink blots. I didn't know he died so young and that chapter was a kick in the stomach because I was really enjoying learning about him and reading the transcripts of letters and papers he'd written.
The second half of the book, which I found slightly less engaging, was about how the ink blots changed after his death. There was also a more general history of the study of psychology, with tangents about Freud and Jung, and how they felt about the ink blots.
I won this in a giveaway and enjoyed it a lot! And I succeeded in reading nonfiction that WASN'T true crime so go me!
The second half of the book, which I found slightly less engaging, was about how the ink blots changed after his death. There was also a more general history of the study of psychology, with tangents about Freud and Jung, and how they felt about the ink blots.
I won this in a giveaway and enjoyed it a lot! And I succeeded in reading nonfiction that WASN'T true crime so go me!
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
Superb. More than a backstory on the inkblots that psychologists and psychiatrists use, the book is the story of the incredible man who created them.
Definitely recommend
Definitely recommend
kaeliowl's review against another edition
4.0
To say this book is a biography of the man behind the Rorschach test only gives half the story. It is also a biography of the test itself.
Searls begins by exploring the life and influences of Hermann Rorschach, his upbringing, schooling, artistic work, siblings, love life. He takes the reader through the early musings that led to the "inkblots." I appreciate the amount of time spent exploring how psychiatrists were working in the era, how they were using actual inkblots and free association and how Freud, Jung, Bleuler, and dozens of other psychologists and psychiatrists were changing the field rapidly. The author tied together the ways art was evolving and the way psychology was evolving in such a way that made the Rorschach test seem almost like a fait accompli.
The part I loved the most about the explanation of Rorschach's development of his theories was his explanation of extroversion and empathy. Jung's ideas of extroversion are the ones we have now, but I really related to how Rorschach explained the mindset it takes to properly empathize--how you have to feel outwards in order to do it.
The second half of the book takes a look at the evolution of the test. Because Rorschach died young, he wasn't able to do as much modification, adaptation, or testing to see the various ways he could use his "experiment" to elicit insight. It also means that the test was used and misused by practitioners hoping to get information that it was never intended to find, in ways it was never intended to be used (such as the multiple choice test).
In the second half of the book, I was particularly struck by the work done to quantify and validate the test. My background is in medical research (medical librarian), so I always look for where a study is in the evidence hierarchy and how its been validated. (I'm waiting for a friend who is a behavioral scientist to read this book to see if she likes this part too or if it exasperates her). I really appreciated knowing that there is validity and reproduciblility in this test, but that it can also be used to further lead conversation within a therapy session.
I acknowledge there are some parts of this book that are probably a bit dry--explanations of the coding of the test in particular. However, I think it was important to include to understand that the Rorschach inkblots aren't a random, see anything you want, no boundaries, free association only, you might as well be looking at clouds kind of test. It does show that these are intentional, with a strong theory behind them.
This book was written how I adore biographies to be written: it considers the world and the life of a person with a brilliant idea. Then it considers how that idea changed the world and other lives after that person was no longer in control of it. Recommended to anyone interested in psychology, personality, or even Russia and Switzerland in the early 1900s.
Searls begins by exploring the life and influences of Hermann Rorschach, his upbringing, schooling, artistic work, siblings, love life. He takes the reader through the early musings that led to the "inkblots." I appreciate the amount of time spent exploring how psychiatrists were working in the era, how they were using actual inkblots and free association and how Freud, Jung, Bleuler, and dozens of other psychologists and psychiatrists were changing the field rapidly. The author tied together the ways art was evolving and the way psychology was evolving in such a way that made the Rorschach test seem almost like a fait accompli.
The part I loved the most about the explanation of Rorschach's development of his theories was his explanation of extroversion and empathy. Jung's ideas of extroversion are the ones we have now, but I really related to how Rorschach explained the mindset it takes to properly empathize--how you have to feel outwards in order to do it.
The second half of the book takes a look at the evolution of the test. Because Rorschach died young, he wasn't able to do as much modification, adaptation, or testing to see the various ways he could use his "experiment" to elicit insight. It also means that the test was used and misused by practitioners hoping to get information that it was never intended to find, in ways it was never intended to be used (such as the multiple choice test).
In the second half of the book, I was particularly struck by the work done to quantify and validate the test. My background is in medical research (medical librarian), so I always look for where a study is in the evidence hierarchy and how its been validated. (I'm waiting for a friend who is a behavioral scientist to read this book to see if she likes this part too or if it exasperates her). I really appreciated knowing that there is validity and reproduciblility in this test, but that it can also be used to further lead conversation within a therapy session.
I acknowledge there are some parts of this book that are probably a bit dry--explanations of the coding of the test in particular. However, I think it was important to include to understand that the Rorschach inkblots aren't a random, see anything you want, no boundaries, free association only, you might as well be looking at clouds kind of test. It does show that these are intentional, with a strong theory behind them.
This book was written how I adore biographies to be written: it considers the world and the life of a person with a brilliant idea. Then it considers how that idea changed the world and other lives after that person was no longer in control of it. Recommended to anyone interested in psychology, personality, or even Russia and Switzerland in the early 1900s.
byashleylamar's review against another edition
I found this book to be incredibly fascinating. As a psychology / social sciences major in college this is exactly the type of non-fiction book I enjoy delving in to. Rorschach was always one of my favorite men behind the study of human behavior and his work in creating the iconic inkblot tests is beyond fascinating.
This book is both a biography of Hermann Rorschach and a study of the science and art behind the inkblots test theory. While I've never been fully convinced of the validity behind the inkblots tests I did find that section of the book to be interesting and well worth a read.
This book is both a biography of Hermann Rorschach and a study of the science and art behind the inkblots test theory. While I've never been fully convinced of the validity behind the inkblots tests I did find that section of the book to be interesting and well worth a read.
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
I liked half this book, the half that was about Rorschach's life and the development of the inkblot test. I feel like the second half of the book which followed different iterations and perceptions of the test could have been edited down. It's pretty comprehensive, I'll give you that. Worth a read.
whipson's review against another edition
4.0
Well-written, well-sourced, and engaging. Having originally dismissed the Rorschach as artistic pseudoscience, this book has given me newfound appreciation for the man and his test. I admire Searls' ability to describe the research in a compelling way, yet maintain a mostly neutral stance between those who promote the test and those who admonish it. It's interesting to see how the test evolved over the years as it was adopted within an array of situations ranging from the psychoanalyst's couch to the Nuremberg prison. I think in the end, however, the author is a bit coy as to his personal views on the test, and he spends almost two chapters waffling between various perspectives. Still, I would wholeheartedly recommend the book to anyone interested in psychology, or even history in general.