'Wise, witty and playful essays, taking in the nature of fundamentalism, excess, authenticity and much else. Radiates the rarest type of questioning intelligence'
John Gray, Prospect

Are we too obsessed with excess?

What can childhood teach us about bad behaviour?

And should we be happy, or is there something better we might be?

In On Balance, acclaimed psychoanalyst Adam Phillips explores a variety of urgent concerns related to how we attempt to manage our conflicting desires, needs and motives.

In essays on excess, childhood development, fairy tales and the pursuit of happiness, Phillips provides exhilarating arguments, witty wordplay and much intellectual and emotional food for thought on literature and life.

'Intriguing and radical questions about the vital information strong responses and desires provide, and how we might use this to identify what we want'
Guardian

'Phillips' writing is a lively source of provocation'
Scotsman

'A volume of elegant wisdom'
New Statesman