A rounded dozen.

Abstract

Welcome to a new series in which we invite distinguished psychiatrists from around the world to select the 12 books they have found valuable in shaping their ideas and influencing their clinical practice. I must be candid. I was totally won over to the intrinsic worth of doing such an exercise when I was invited to contribute to the '10 books' series of the British Journal of Psychiatry. I had to think long and hard but the effort was exhilarating. I discovered in an odd sort of way the figures who have proved central to the development of my career. Peter Tyrer, the Editor of the British Journal, graciously encouraged me to imitate the 10 books column. Hence the 'rounded dozen' concept. (I had immense difficulty confining myself to 10 books when I had to make my selections and thought a couple of extra places would not go amiss!) I am delighted that a dear friend and mentor, the eminent German psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and family therapist, Helm Stierlin, acepted my invitation to launch the new column. His 'essay' is not only replete with fascinating psychiatric history but also reveals a colleague who is able to maintain an eager curiosity about the nature of our marvellous profession and a willingness to alter his way of thinking in the light of new conceptual and empirical knowledge. I commend his essay to you and hope you are as inspired by it as I am. I shall be inviting other eminent psychiatrists to prepare a 'rounded dozen' but welcome any suggestions from the readership for potential contributors. Sidney Bloch Editor