Howard M. Feinstein

Howard Marvin Feinstein (born 1929) is an American psychiatrist and writer. His 1984 biography of the psychologist and philosopher William James was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Feinstein received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a medical degree also from Cornell in 1955. He completed his psychiatry residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester hospital and then served two years as a captain in the United States Army Medical Corps at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. Gaylin was also critical of the book for not exploring with any detail James' relationship with his mother Mary James, who was said to have a central role in his early life. Finally, Gaylin was critical for the inclusion of some family members' letters, particularly James' younger brothers Wilkie and Bob, feeling the inclusion of their chapter was superfluous and did not pertain at all with James' own psychology or character. Ross stated the book provides a rich analysis and description of life in Victorian era America. Ross also stated that Feinstein succeeds in explaining how the environment and other family members shaped James' own personality and life, however she was also critical of the work for not expounded more on James' mother Mary and their relationship.

Feinstein was a professor of psychology at Cornell University. He studied psychobiography under Erik Erikson and was a visiting fellow at the Tavistock Clinic.