Man and His Symbols by Carl Gustav Jung Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.37 You Save: $3.62 (45%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.00 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Man and His Symbols
Book Review: Not as easy a read as promised...
Summary: 4 Stars
Jung's concepts interested me so I purchased this book. I am far from educated in psychology, but I am intrigued by it. Although advertised as a book for the layman, I would disagree. Not simple enough to help build the foundation upon which I would like to build. Better as a third or fourth book after a base of knowledge has been laid.Book Review: One of the best synposis of Jung's psychology
Summary: 5 Stars
There are only two titles of Jung's I know of that were meant for general consumption: _Man and His Symbols_ and _Memories, Dreams, Reflections_. The rest, most of which are part of the 20-volume Bollingen series, are too involved and technical.Lest the reader be misled _Man and His Symbols_ is an anthology of essays by several authors, namely and in their order of appearance, Carl Jung, Joseph Hendersen, Marie-Louise von Franz, Aniela Jaffe, and Jolande Jacobi. All the co-contributors are Jungian analysts themselves and so are versed in the subjects they cover. Jung picked them himself and supervised the work until his death in 1961, after which von Franz took over. Perhaps not by accident Jung finished his own essay just 10 days before his demise. His essay (just over 90 pages out of the 400 or so pages) touches, naturally, on the unconscious, the very crucial subject of dreams, the archetypes, extraversion/introversion, religion, good and evil, among other topics. Given the scope, this essay of his offers a sort of synopsis of his worldview and life's work, perhaps one of the best summaries since it was his last published piece.
Amongst Jung's books that I've read, his essay in this anthology is by far one of the most engrossing. Unfortunately I have to eke out a living like most of you so I can only savor it in installments. Of course I highly recommend this volume if only to whet your appetite for Jung's psychology, a psychology that has not only served me well, but continues to fascinate me, a psychology that is faithful to its roots--a true logos of the psyche.
Book Review: Regarding the book Man and his Symbols
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the most informative books that I have ever read. In the introduction John Freeman writes:"Jung's arguments (and those of his colleages) spiral upward over his subject like a bird circling a tree. At first, near the ground, it sees only a confusion of leaves and branches. Gradually, as it cirles higher and higher the recurring aspects of the tree form a wholeness and relate to their surroundings. Some readers may find this 'spiralling' method of argument obscure or confusing for a few pages-but not, I think, for long. It is characteristic of Jung's method, and very soon the reader will find it carrying him with it on a persuasive and profoundly absorbing journey." The book is written from the laymen and very easy to understand. When one first picks it up and begins reading it one is in the dark about many of the ideas the book is expressing but after a number of pages one begins to get an excellent idea of what the authors are trying to convey. It is a truly enlightening book. I recommend this book to anyone who truly wants to learn more about psychology and the human condition. For readers who are reading the book for the first time I recommend the hard cover edition as this contains more illustrations thus helping the first time reader understand many of the ideas the authors are trying to express.Book Review: Rewarding
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are a layman like myself and feel that Jung may be a bit difficult to read you should start with this. Although this book does not systematically present his theories, it touches on all of Jung's important contributions to psychology. While reading this book, it was easily understood why Jung was so intrigued by mysticism. The illustrations in this book are amazing, and sometimes spellbinding, and to me they had the effect I think the authors intended -- to understand The archetypes. Read this book. It will take you places you never been or thought you could go.Book Review: Something Everyone who has an Unconscious Should Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I recommend three books to everyone I know. Dr. Northrup's "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom", Gavin DeBecker's "The Gift of Fear" and this one. I have convinced many to read it, including a net buddy from Cuba.This book is a primer in listening to our unconsicous. If we all learned to do that, the world would be a much better place. I find it hard to have serious discussions on such topics as reality, religion, culture or anything else with people who haven't read this book. I end up spending all my time explaining what is in the book before I can even present my own ideas.
The book isn't "easy" reading, but if the reader sticks with it, he/she will get a lot out of it. Dr. Jung writes to our unconscious as much as our conscious. There have been times when something didn't seem important when I read it, but later bells went off. I love those bells.
Dr. Jung and his colleagues words are so inspiring, that I have decided to follow in their footsteps. I can say that this book truly changed my life