The Basie Fault

The ideas put forward and the questions raised in this book were important ten years ago; some of them are, perhaps, even more important today. I am very glad to have been given the opportunity to write the preface for the second edition. Michael Balint, in his preface to the hrst edition, wrote, in April 1967, exactly twelve years ago, that the problems discussed in the book had occupied him for the past ten years or so. It is my impression that they had occupied him for much longer: perhaps for all of his working life. In spite of that, when we had discussion together about the matters raised in the book, discussion which invariably arose out of clinical problems, Balint would not allow any preconceived ideas, or earlier theories, to block his observations and thinking. He tolerated long periods of doubt and uncertainty brought about by his new observations and thus avoided being content with false solutions which would have evaded the problems and the understanding he was trying to reach. His honesty of mind was impressive to me then as it is today.