Student Resources History and Biographies Influential Books by Sigmund Freud By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 15, 2023 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Trending Videos Close this video player Sigmund Freud is one of the most famous figures of the twentieth century. His often controversial ideas had a major impact on the growing field of psychology, and his influence continues to be felt today. In addition to his overarching theories of human psychology, he was also a prolific writer, publishing more than 320 different books, articles, and essays. The following list represents a selection of the most famous and influential Sigmund Freud books. If you are interested in learning more about Freud and his theories, consider reading a few of his original writings to get a better grasp of Freudian theory directly from the original source. There are many textbooks that summarize his ideas, but sometimes nothing beats consulting the original writings to gain greater insights and perspectives on his many ideas. Studies on Hysteria (1895) Image: Hulton Archive / Getty Images "Studies on Hysteria," or Studien über Hysterie, was co-authored by Freud and his colleague Josef Breuer. The book described their work and study of a number of individuals suffering from hysteria, including one of their most famous cases, a young woman known as Anna O. "Studies on Hysteria" is one of the most significant Sigmund Freud books because it introduced the use of psychoanalysis as a treatment for mental illness. The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) "The Interpretation of Dreams" was originally published in German under the title Die Traumdeutung. Freud often identified this book as his personal favorite, and it has gone on to become a perennial classic in the history of psychology. The book lays out Freud's theory that dreams represent unconscious wishes disguised by symbolism. This book is a must-read if you want to learn more about Freud's approach to dreams and the unconscious mind. "The Interpretation of Dreams" is considered a classic among Sigmund Freud's books because it served as a foundational text for his theories of psychoanalysis. It laid out many of his ideas on the unconscious, dream interpretation, and the meaning of latent and manifest dream content. The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901) "The Psychopathology of Everyday Life," or Zur Psychopathologie des Alltagslebens, is considered one of the major texts that outline Freud's psychoanalytic theory. The book takes a closer look at many deviations that occur during everyday life, including forgetting names, slips of the tongue (aka Freudian slips), and errors in speech and concealed memories. He then analyzes the underlying psychopathology that he believed led to such errors. If you are looking for a Sigmund Freud book that demonstrates his approach to applying his theories to real life, "The Psychopathology of Everyday Life" is a must-read. Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905) "Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality," or Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie, is considered one of Freud's most important works. In these essays, he outlines his theory of psychosexual development and introduces other concepts including the Oedipus complex, penis envy, and castration anxiety. While modern ideas of human sexuality have evolved beyond Freud's theories, reading this Sigmund Freud book can be a great way to learn more about early psychoanalytic thought and better grasp how attitudes about sexuality have changed in the subsequent years. Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious (1905) In "Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious," or Der Witz und seine Beziehung zum Unbewußten, Freud observed how jokes, much like dreams, could be related to unconscious wishes, desires, or memories. Freud's theory of humor is based on his theory of the id, ego, and superego. According to Freud, the superego allows the ego to generate and express humor. Freud also suggested that cultivating a sense of humor could play a role in unlocking repressions. However, he also felt that certain types of humor, including self-directed irony and sarcasm, could be potentially harmful. This book can be an excellent primer on understanding how aspects of Freudian theory can be applied to psychoanalytic thought. Totem and Taboo (1913) "Totem and Taboo: Resemblances Between the Mental Lives of Savages and Neurotics," or Totem und Tabu: Einige Übereinstimmungen im Seelenleben der Wilden und der Neurotiker, is a collection of four essays that apply psychoanalysis to other fields including religion, anthropology, and archaeology. Recap "Totem and Taboo" takes an interdisciplinary look at psychoanalysis. It can be a helpful read if you want to learn more about the influence of Freudian theories on other disciplines. On Narcissism ( 1914) In On Narcissism, or Zur Einführung des Narzißmus, Freud outlines his theory of narcissism. In the book, he suggests that narcissism is actually a normal part of the human psyche. He referred to this as primary narcissism or the energy that lies behind each person's survival instincts. "On Narcissism" marks a significant shift in Freud's ideas, focusing more on libidinal energy directed toward the self rather than toward objects. It also marks an exploration in to the origins of narcissism as a personality disorder. Introduction to Psychoanalysis (1917) As one of Freud's most famous books, "Introduction to Psychoanalysis" (or Vorlesungen zur Einführung in die Psychoanalyse), Freud outlines his theory of psychoanalysis including the unconscious mind, the idea of neuroses, and dreams. The preface, written by G. Stanley Hall, explains, "These twenty-eight lectures to laymen are elementary and almost conversational. Freud sets forth with a frankness almost startling the difficulties and limitations of psychoanalysis, and also describes its main methods and results as only a master and originator of a new school of thought can do." Recap "Introduction to Psychoanalysis" is a good overall primer on Freud's approach to psychoanalysis. Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920) In "Beyond the Pleasure Principle," originally published in German as Jenseits des Lustprinzips, Freud explored his theory of instincts in greater depth. Previously, Freud's work identified the libido as the force behind human actions. In this book, he developed a theory of drives motivated by life and death instincts. In addition to presenting his ideas on life and death instincts, "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" introduced Freud's concept of repetition compulsion. This phenomenon involves people unconsciously repeating traumatic experiences, behaviors, and relationships. The Future of an Illusion (1927) In "The Future of an Illusion," originally published as Die Zukunft einer Illusion, Freud explores religion through a psychoanalytic lens. He describes his own ideas about the origins and development of religion, and suggests that religion is an illusion made up of "...certain dogmas, assertions about facts and conditions of external and internal reality which tell one something that one has not oneself discovered, and which claim that one should give them credence." Recap "The Future of an Illusion" presents Freud's ideas about religion and how it is informed by psychoanalytic processes. Civilization and Its Discontents (1930) "Civilization and Its Discontents," or Das Unbehagen in der Kultur, is one of Freud's best known as most widely read books. The book centers on Freud's ideas about the tension between the individual and civilization. According to Freud, many of our basic desires are at odds with what is best for society, which is why laws prohibiting certain actions are created. The result, he argues, is an ongoing feeling of discontentment among the citizens of that civilization. This Sigmund Freud book is significant because it explores the inherent tension between individual human desires and the demands of society. The book presents a look at Freud's ideas about how individual's navigate these tensions in order to live in organized societies. Moses and Monotheism (1939) In "Moses and Monotheism," first published in 1937 as Der Mann Moses und die monotheistische Religion, Freud utilizes his psychoanalytic theory to develop hypotheses about events of the past. In this book, he suggests that Moses was not Jewish but was instead an ancient Egyptian monotheist. This was Freud's final work and perhaps one of his most controversial. Despite the criticism of Freud's speculative take on history, the book can spark questions about the psychological origins of monotheistic religion. A Word From Verywell Freud may not be as dominant of an influence as he was in the past, but being familiar with his work and theories is important if you want to understand psychology's history. College textbooks often supply only a cursory overview of some of his best-known ideas. If you are interested in taking a closer look at Freud's work, exploring some of his many books can provide a great deal of insight into the ideas that fueled the rise of psychoanalysis. 7 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Dallas Baptist University. Freud. Bibliography (full). Halberstadt-Freud HC. Studies on hysteria one hundred years on: a century of psychoanalysis. Int J Psychoanal. 1996;77 ( Pt 5):983-996. Greenberg R, Pearlman CA. The interpretation of dreams a classic revisited. Psychoanalytic Dialogues. 1999;9(6):749-765. doi:10.1080/10481889909539359 Holmes J. The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, Sigmund Freud - reflection. Br J Psychiatry. 2017;211(2):87. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.117.199281 Swaminath G. 'Joke's A Part': In defence of humour. Indian J Psychiatry. 2006;48(3):177-180. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.31581 Grossman WI. Freud's presentation of 'the psychoanalytic mode of thought' in Totem and taboo and his technical papers. Int J Psychoanal. 1998;79 ( Pt 3):469-486. Levine HB. The compulsion to repeat: An introduction. Int J Psychoanal. 2020;101(6):1162-1171. doi:10.1080/00207578.2020.1815541 By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." 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