Fathering or How I Ended Analysis (Again)

Fathering or How I Ended Analysis (Again) is a deeply personal and honest memoir chronicling one man's journey through psychoanalysis while navigating the prospect of late-in-life fatherhood. It follows on from the author’s account of his first ‘tranche’ of psychoanalysis, now a ‘Routledge Classic of Mental Health Literature’, Wool-Gathering of How I Ended Analysis.

Through candid and often hilarious journal entries spanning several years, readers gain access to the inner workings of both psychoanalytic therapy and the emotional landscape of prospective parenthood. Dan Gunn weaves together literary references, philosophical insights, and raw personal experiences to explore themes of loss, hope, and transformation. Readers will discover how the author confronts his deepest fears about becoming a father while working through unresolved grief, and will enjoy intellectual stimulation and emotional resonance thanks to his vivid account of his unflinching self-examination.

Combining intimate diary entries with reflections on nationality, belonging, relationships, and the meaning of paternity, this memoir will resonate with readers interested in psychoanalysis, accounts of midlife transformation, and literary explorations of parenthood. It will particularly speak to those who have experienced fertility challenges and gone through IVF, individuals in therapy or considering analysis, and readers who appreciate sophisticated literary writing that humorously tackles themes of family, loss, and personal growth.