In this work on narcissism, Kohut develops a theory of the psychoanalytic treatment of narcissistic personality disorders. He refutes the view that patients suffering from such disorders are particularly resistant to psychoanalytic treatment techniques, as their most important tool, namely transference—meaning the reactivation of past object experiences in present relationships, especially with the analyst—cannot function. After contributing to a greater conceptual clarity of the often still very speculative concept of narcissism through long-term studies, he now demonstrates through detailed and illustrative case presentations how these patients, considered difficult to treat, can indeed be receptive to psychoanalytic therapy. In doing so, he also arrives at many insightful statements about the subject.