Max Wertheimer and Gestalt Theory

This book is easy to read and interesting. It gets a bit confusing for the reader at times, especially in relation to the meaning of Pragnanz, but having watched an interview series on Youtube of Wertheimer's son, Michael, it's clear why the confusion arises. This book is largely an historical treatise and is important as background to the origins and inspiration of Gestalt Theory, especially in light of what was to happen to the Gestaltists' reputation later on in American acadaemia.

I hope to write a longer review when I have time, but here goes. I ordered this book a couple months ago and have been referring to it constantly.Gestalt psychologists -- and by this I mean the original variety -- are among history's most fascinating and deep psychologists. This might not be evident from the few tidbits that show up in most basic psychology texts. But one hint that does get passed down frequently is that Abraham Maslow viewed Wertheimer as one of the few "self-actualized" people he had met. This book paints a portrait of the heroes of Gestalt psychology, and their profound outlooks on science, life and everything. They were creative, courageous, outrageous, profound... and human. Their long-neglected ideas were important then and they are important now.This is Michael Wertheimer's long-awaited biography of his beloved and long-deceased father, completed with his long-time research collaborator, Brett King. I remember seeing him, and later them, work on the enormous project when I was a graduate student in the 1980s and 1990s in Boulder, Colorado. Professor Wertheimer's offices were cluttered with document after document related to his father and other Gestalt psychologists. The Gestalt/Wertheimer story was remarkably intricate, and it was clear that Professor Wertheimer wanted to do justice to the story. Well, the resulting book is remarkable, and I recommend it strongly.Another book on Gestaltists that I recommend strongly - Ley's book on Wolfgang Kohler and the Apes of Tenerife.Oct 16, 2006: New Book/translation of a classic and important Gestalt text:LAWS OF SEEINGby Wolfgang Metzger (originally published 1936)Translated by Lothar Spillmann, Steven Lehar, MimseyStromeyer, and Michael WertheimerMIT Press.I just ordered the Metzger/Spillmann et al. book.I think it is great that there is so much "new" material on the great Gestalt thinkers. Taking a deeper look at Gestalt thinking has been well worth it. The school's thinking was much more deep and significant than the cartoon versions that are found in many textbooks.

I originally bought this because of my interest in Gestalt Theory, but found myself even more taken by the story of Wertheimer's life, his feeling for justice, and his intellectual depth and breadth. A fascinating memoir!

This book came when it said it was coming and is a wonderful book!

Sehr umfangreicher und gut lesbarer Überblick über das Leben und Werk von Max Wertheimer. Die Entwicklung der Gestalttheorie wird in biographische, historische und soziale Zusammenhänge gesetzt.