The Drive for Power

Book excerpt: The psychiatrist who broke into national prominence when it was revealed that Richard Nixon had consulted him, has written a book which history has demanded be written: an examination of the nature of the power drive and how it works in all men, whether they are vying for power in politics, in business, or in marriage. The central question to which Dr. Hutschnecker addresses his book is: “How can we distinguish between mentally healthy leaders and men who, under an appealing façade, hide an inner rage and a mind in disarray?” The answers he gives provide the basis for understanding that the power drive is an essential part of personality, and that it can be channeled into creative and constructive behavior instead of hostile and aggressive acts. Dr. Hutschnecker gives us perspective on the trends in thought in the psychoanalytic world of the seventies as he parses various historical events through his lens of psychotherapy. The Drive for Power is a major statement from a famous doctor whose lifework has been dedicated to the potential for human improvement.