The publisher describes this book as "a clear, concise introduction to the thought of" Lacan. Nothing could be more misleading than the publisher's description. It would indeed be completely deflating if the person who maintained that "knowledge is worth just as much as it costs, a pretty penny, in that it takes elbow grease and that it's difficult" would turn around and give a pithy three lecture series that unlocked all the mysteries of Lacanian psychoanalysis in a clear and concise fashion. Nothing is that simple, and Lacan has much more integrity than that. So, when purchasing this book, do not expect a departure from Lacan's usual discourse. This is as difficult as reading Ecrits or the Seminars, and if one thinks they are simple, it is because one is not getting anything out of it. For that reason, I recommend this book to both new comers to Lacan (although it may still be confusing) and to old timers.
Maybe the publisher gives that description because Lacan at one point claims "I allow myself this prosopopoeia simply to make what I am saying comprehensible to those of you who have not heard it before." Okay. Then the next paragraph reads: "When I express myself by saying that the unconscious is structured like a language, I am trying to restore the true function of everything that structures under the aegis of Freud, and that in itself allows us to see our first step." Now, I am honest enough to say that to a new reader, this paragraph seems anything but clear and concise. It is probably totally meaningless. I am not saying that it doesn't contain anything valuable, because it does. I am saying that, like every other piece of Lacanian discourse, this book requires some assembly, some work, some elbow grease in order to extract that value.
To be sure, there are true moments of lucidity in this book. After struggling through the first dozen pages or so, I found myself saying "Ah ha!" But it seems to me it is because I decided to work, really work, through the text (I apologize for sounding self-indulgent). Those "Ah ha!" moments are the rewards for sticking to it. So, please be patient, if you are new, and work through Lacan's words, and you too will have those moments.
So, if I may, I would like to write a new publisher description in order not to be misleading:
"My Teaching brings together three previously unpublished lectures presented to various clinical audiences. It will be valuable to English readers of Lacan. And for those new readers who are willing to work, add a little elbow grease to their reading, it will provide a worthwhile introduction to Lacan's thought."
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