"A concise, pointed historical inquiry into Freud's atheism and Jewish cultural identity and their role in his development of psychoanalysis."-Library Journal "A lucid, occasionally provocative close-up of Freud-as-nonbeliever, enhanced by Gay's suave, broadly allusive handling of the historical and theological contexts."-Kirkus Reviews "In this valuable essay, Gay ...brings great sensitivity and insight to a debate that still persists in some quarters."-Publishers Weekly "Freud ...would have enjoyed Peter Gay's book."-John C. Marshall, New York Times Book Review "Freud himself asked why psychoanalysis had to be created by a 'completely godless Jew.' Gay elegantly and convincingly answers his question."-Choice "It is an important and welcome contribution to the vast literature that already exists on Freud and the movement that he founded."-Lee Dembart, Los Angeles Times Published in association with the Hebrew Union College Press