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CHOICE Review

Gernsbacher held a doctorate in suicidology and established an Institute of Professional Suicidology. In this book, he sought to develop a framework and typology within which a broad range of self-destructive behavior could be understood, involving societies as well as individuals. Gernsbacher begins with a definition of ``suicide'' that is exceptionally broad and arguably too diffuse. A central premise is the projection-by suicide-of a ``fantastic self,'' an immortal, flawless, and idealized self-image that clashes painfully with reality. A typology of suicide is then developed in elaborate detail. The operation of various psychological factors, e.g., self-hatred, vindictiveness, and hopelessness, is considered within this typology. The final third of the book explores suicidal life-styles, crises, and preventive tactics. Although some relatively convincing scenarios of circumstances leading to suicide are offered and a selective sampling of insights about self-destructiveness is advanced, this ambitious analysis suffers from excessive reliance upon pop psychological generalizations. General readership.-D.O. Friedrichs, University of Scranton