Man and His Symbols by Carl Gustav Jung Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Man and His Symbols
Book Review: Very Good Summation
Summary: 5 Stars
This book provides a good summary of Jungian dream analysis. Instead of bogging down with highly detailed and esoteric references, it gives the reader easy to follow explanations. But it is not overly dumbed down. You still feel like you are learning useful and relatively advanced information.The main body of the book is comprised of several essays, written by a select group of Jung's peers, which carefully explain his work. And Jung himself edited the essays, in order to assure that his messages were crystal clear. Jung provides an excellent introduction chapter as well.
If you are looking for an easy to digest book that covers Jung's amazing dream analysis techniques, Man and His Symbols is made for you.
Book Review: Written as an introduction for the layperson.
Summary: 4 Stars
In the introduction to the book, John Freeman tells the story of how Jung came to get involved with the project. Apparently, the managing director of Aldus books had seen Jung on the BBC and was so struck by his warmth and personableness that he tried to persuade Jung to apply those same qualities to a book written for the general masses, rather than for psychologists themselves. While at first refusing, Jung was swayed by one of his own dreams into changing his mind and agreeing to take on the project. Given that the book to a large degree dwells on dreams and what can be learned from them, it is an appropriate anecdote.
The publisher does not get any praise for designing the cover in such a way that it implies Jung was the author of the entire book. He was the editor and wrote one of the chapters. Neither is the book an integral whole-- the chapters treat different aspects of symbolism and the unconscious, each with their own viewpoint and flavor.
The essays in the book are as follows:
"Approaching the Unconscious" (Carl Jung)-- for those who don't know his work, this is a very nice introduction to most of the basic points.
"Ancient Myths and Modern Man" (Joseph L. Henderson)-- examines symbols as they appear in both myth and modern day culture.
"The Process of Individuation" (M.-L. von Franz)-- treats patterns of dreams over the lifetime of the individual. A good look at the concept of Animus and Anima.
"Symbolism in the Visual Arts" (Aniele Jaffe)-- IMO the weakest chapter, looks at the progression of sacred symbol to art.
"Symbols in an Individual Analysis" (Jolande Jacobi)-- Describes the treatment through dream analysis of a young Swiss man.
While the book felt uneven in places (and even contradictory), it serves well in the purpose for which it was intended. Someone reading the book will get the basic concepts of symbols and the unconscious, and some decent pointers to further readings in the notes if they wanted to find out more.
Book Review: especially useful at showing Jung's ideas visually and in relation to traditional religious symbols
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a short, beautifully-illustrated intro into analytic psyche. For a more philosophical intro to the ideas of Jung, try the Portable Jung.
Jung was one of the Big 3 interpreters of myths, along with Joseph Campbell and Mircea Eliade. His theory was based upon the idea of a 'collective unconscious' -- that is, that deep within the human mind there is a 'hardwiring or structure' beyond language & logic. It is the source of much of human creativity and it is often fathomed (expressed) through eidetic images which are dream-like or by interpretation of dreams themselves. Non-Jungian psychiatrists and clinical psychologists have never really 'proven' the validity of Jung's 'collective unconscious.' I suspect like religion & myth it is a self-validating construct -- either you relate or do not based upon personal introspection / reflection. However, it has become a Great Idea of the 20th century which has endured beyond the usefulness of Freud's 'subconscious' or id because of its relevance to comparative myths, religion, & visual arts.
Freud considered 'unconscious' or id as a repressed part of personality which produced mostly negative effects, i.e. neuroses. Jung considered the 'collective unconscious' more positively, as a potential source of creativity as well as an expression of neuroses. This was in part because Jung's patient base was primarily middle-aged and his therapy often was concerned with 'mid-life crises'. Does that make any sense? Not included :The letters between Freud & Jung are especially interesting.
Book Review: good place to start with Jung....
Summary: 5 Stars
....for although he edited this collection and made some contributions, most of it was provided by friends and students who knew how to explain his ideas. Good introduction to the psychology of symbol, myth, and things Jungian.Book Review: why in depth,when the basics aren't clear
Summary: 2 Stars
the first part of the book(jung's part)is really nice explained of what psychology actually is(but it's only 72 pages).and then very surprising ,the other authers start explaining in depth fragments of importent parts of psychology with examples!!!I didn't like that approach.I had a feeling their was much more to say about it in general.it's more like "a built yourself machine" where every part of the machine is named ,but how you put it together is your problem.Sooo after a while the book became really anoying. Hope this helps