Reprints a translation by A. A. Brill, which was originally published in 1918 (Dodd, Mead & Company). Freud's classic work applies psychoanalysis to aboriginals, paralleling aboriginal practice and neurotic patterns of behavior. For example, Freud compares aboriginal incest taboos with scrupulous rituals of compulsion neurotics who, Freud finds, also wrestle with incest taboos. Culture is itself theorized as a reaction-formation to taboos prohibiting potentially destructive social behavior. Annotation c. Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
