Inspired by the idea of becoming a psychoanalyst, the young Josef Shaked travels from Israel to post-war Vienna via New York. Through various detours, he reaches his desired goal: he becomes a psychoanalyst as well as a group analyst and experiences both the fascinating and the darker sides of the domestic and international psychoanalytic scene. Against the backdrop of his professional development, the author sheds light on the crucial theoretical advancements in psychoanalysis, highlights its current trends, and discusses the sometimes vehement criticism it faces. Special attention is given to the history, theory, and practice of analytical small groups and large groups, whose socio-political dimensions expand the framework of psychotherapy.