James Reich’s 2024 monograph on Wilhelm Reich is one of the 2024’s Notable Books chosen by the Ancillary Review of Books:
Wilhelm Reich versus The Flying Saucers meticulously explores the controversial psychologist’s last years, which are usually known as his “meltdown”, trying to find a rationale in Reich’s seemingly erratic behavior. Using a vivid style that really brings Reich to life, the author (no family relation) paints a careful and measured description of Reich’s use of the “weather cannon” and the “space gun”, veering away from the spectacular to attain a respectful intimacy, albeit a critical and at times a painful one, with the psychologist’s motives. Paraphrasing the X-Files’ famous motto, we could say in conclusion that Reich didn’t “want to believe”, but “needed to believe”. – Seb Doubinsky
