{"product_id":"knots-by-r-d-laing","title":"'Knots' by R. D. Laing","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a41ee64-ba8c-83ec-af6f-c73473cd84da-8\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-6a41ee64-ba8c-83ec-af6f-c73473cd84da-8\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a41ee64-ba8c-83ec-af6f-c73473cd84da-8\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-184\" data-turn=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\" class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"e5e425ca-8e17-45b9-addc-93bd1eae2bf0\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-start=\"42\" data-end=\"663\"\u003eFirst published in 1970, \u003cem data-start=\"67\" data-end=\"74\"\u003eKnots\u003c\/em\u003e is one of R. D. Laing's more unusual and enduring books.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"42\" data-end=\"663\"\u003eRather than presenting psychiatric theory in conventional prose, Laing constructs a series of verbal patterns, paradoxes and recursive dialogues that map the impossible structures people become trapped inside. Love, shame, dependence, resentment and identity are rendered as looping linguistic forms that reveal how relationships can become self-sustaining systems of contradiction. Somewhere between philosophy, poetry, drama and psychotherapy, the book remains unlike almost anything else written in twentieth-century psychology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"665\" data-end=\"1068\"\u003eWhile Laing is best known for works such as \u003cem data-start=\"709\" data-end=\"727\"\u003eThe Divided Self\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"729\" data-end=\"736\"\u003eKnots\u003c\/em\u003e has become a cult text well beyond psychiatry, influencing artists, writers, systems thinkers and theorists interested in language, cybernetics and interpersonal dynamics. It rewards slow reading, with many passages functioning almost like conceptual poems whose apparent simplicity gives way to remarkable psychological precision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1095\" data-end=\"1228\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1978 Penguin paperback edition. Moderate shelf and edge wear to wraps with some creasing and rubbing. Interior is clean and unmarked.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"bower studio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45788005662803,"sku":null,"price":13.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0689\/0268\/2707\/files\/Untitleddesign-2026-07-06T175810.614.png?v=1783324733","url":"https:\/\/bowerbooks.com\/products\/knots-by-r-d-laing","provider":"bower books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}