The book presents a day-long symposium with Adam Phillips and includes additional contributions from John Bliss, Patricia Ticineto Clough, Edward Corrigan, Holly Levenkron, Kathleen DelMar Miller, Thomas Rini, Ron Taffel, Betty P. Teng, Karen Weiser, and Melissa White Gomez.

In his first essay, ‘The Magic of Winnicott: Playing and reality, and reality’, Adam Phillips makes clear the subtlety and wisdom of Winnicott’s concept of play. Its inspiration came from a wonderful and unanticipated encounter with the extraordinary Marion Milner that plays into and influences the entire essay. In his second, ‘The Cure for Psychoanalysis’, he works through psychoanalytic theories about cure and instructs us to take most seriously those that free the analyst and patient to wonder and to take pleasure in the unknowable adventure ahead of them.

These two thought-provoking writings frame a discussion between the author and Edward Corrigan, analyst and friend, which offers an intimate portrait of two analysts in conversation, thoughtfully reflecting on traditions that inform Phillips’ practice and prolific works. This record of ‘A Day with Adam Phillips’ at The Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy in New York includes questions and commentaries which demonstrate the creative and open expression encouraged by and reflected in the practice of psychoanalysis itself.