A Life of One's Own

Joanna Field is nom de plume of the well known British psychoanalyst Marion Milner. In this "psychological memoire" she reveals a 20-something woman living a somewhat charmed bohemian life of the early 1930-ies - travels across Yorkshire, Tuscany and Virginia/Massachusetts are superimposed on adventures and explorations of inner landscapes composed of dreams, memories, reflections ...and the unknown. The book, written in the form of a diary, is an excellent guide for anyone about to embark on the rewarding, if treacherous, journey of self discovery. Milner figured out, pretty much by herself, key elements of what these days passes as somatic psychotherapy. The art of listening to the body, to fears hiding in misty waters of the unconscious, and of opening to the delight that descends when we, often unsuspectingly and all too fleetingly, are graced by the authentic experience of living, are described in fascinating detail. How does one maintain authenticity when being with other people, what makes us happy, what brings us the sense of direction, how to observe thoughts, emotions and gestures, how to navigate the madscape of mental activity, how "facts" distill themselves out of the boundless background of the unknown, that immense kaleidoscope that keeps changing with our motives- in other words, what IS perception and what awareness... this book lays it all out in a human, so human and irresistible way. After the first chapter I felt an immediate kinship, affection and respect for this woman who died a long time ago, yet left us with this scintilla of honesty and insight. Highly recommended.

What really makes you happy? This question set Marion Milner, writing under the pseudonym Joanna Field, on an inward journey of discovery through the subtle and fleeting processes of perception, thought and emotion over seven years. In this book, she writes a kind of diary summary, in the simplest and most human terms, of her psychological detective work. The result is intriguing, beautiful, energising and profound.

This is a remarkable and inspiring book. This book is beautifully written, and would be useful for somebody who, like the author, is on a journey of self-discovery.