Man and His Symbols

Fascinating study of the psyche.Insightful exploration of the myths which inform our subconscious. While the binding is sturdy, the quality of the paper is poor. Of course, this is the publisher's issue; still, I was disappointed.

This book arrived well within the alloted time frame. I got busy and just checked emails logs to see what I've missed. It arrived as expected and along side it's paperback copy that I own I can now appreciate the hardbound version with a much richer experience.

Thanks.

- Marc

I have always been interested in Jung's works, even though I don't agree with all of it. I bought this book because I wanted to re-read his thoughts on the Anima, the Woman Within each man. I particularly like his different stages of development for the Anima. During a recent fast I felt, for about one hour, my own sexuality change temporarily. It was very clean, healthy, and respectful, and I wonder if that corresponds to Jung's second stage of Anima development. I believe that the Anima is in fact a warrior for God/The Universe, but perhaps future people will have to elaborate upon that concept. If you like Jung definitely check out this book. I also want to read his book, "Modern Man in Search of a Soul", I think is the title.

I'm glad I read the book but I was not ecstatic while I was reading it. The first section, by Carl Jung himself, was the clearest and best written of all the sections. I personally can't focus on hearing other people's strange dreams. There was a lot of that in the later sections of the book and I basically just flipped past those pages.

I'm glad I read the book but I was not ecstatic while I was reading it. The first section, by Carl Jung himself, was the clearest and best written of all the sections. I personally can't focus on hearing other people's strange dreams. There was a lot of that in the later sections of the book and I basically just flipped past those pages.

This edition --- the library / school binding --- was purchased because I was concerned that the paperback version (which I own) would fall apart over time. I wanted to give a more substantial copy as a gift, and this was the only thing available in "hardback." It cost quite a bit more than the paperback, but it wasn't worth the extra money. The book is narrow, poorly trimmed, with tiny (less than half inch) margins on either side of the text. The text itself is too small to read... seems about 7 points. The cover is cheap-looking, slightly off-kilter, and badly glued. I am too embarrassed to give this as a gift. Because the book is so narrow and firmly bound, it is exceptionally difficult to open and keep open. It requires a lot of hand strength to hold it in a comfortable position to read. It's as if the binding is spring-loaded. Libaries who carry this shoddy version are probably putting students off Jung forever. What a shame.

The book does have a hard cover, but the inside is composed of cheap paperback book materials. It is only 5"x7" in size with dingily shaded paper, making it almost useless to appreciate, and in some cases decipher the drawings, or images/symbols within. After-all this is what the book is all about; "Man and His Symbols". On the cover it states "profusely illustrated", but the illustrations in most cases are not of good visual quality. I previously had this book years ago in a hardbound 8"X11" size, with colored illustrations on glossed paper. The fact that the cover was laid out the same on hardbound, and in color, led me to believe it was the same inside as out. The book was intended to be given to my son who is studying art/ symbols and Jungian psychologhy . However, such as it is, it can only be deemed somewhat usless. -john mikula

Turtleback books has produced the lowest quality book I've ever seen. The paper isn't white, it's grey and the pictures, which of course are an essential part of this book and has a special meaning when interpreting Jungs works, are beyond description... This book should not have been allowed to enter the market at all!

Man and his Symbols, was my introduction to the writings of Carl G. Jung over half a lifetime ago. A plot outline for a historical romance was taking shape in my mind. Parts of my story were reflected in the archetypes of the collective unconscious Jung wrote about. After reading Man and his Symbols, I read many of Jung’s other writings. When he mentioned a classic of great literature to illustrate his points, I read it too, to see if I agreed that it substantiated his theories.

Man and his Symbols consists of one essay written by Jung, and four additional essays written by Jungian psychiatrists. Jung’s essay is entitled, “Approaching the unconscious.”

Sigmund Freud introduced the concept of the unconscious mind. The unconscious contains forgotten memories, usually of sexual traumas, that the person is unaware of, but which continue to influence his feelings and behavior. For example, sexual abuse as a girl might cause a woman to suffer physical ailments which do not have obvious physical causes. By getting the woman to remember the event, usually by hypnosis, Freud was able to overcome the physical ailment.

Jung began as a follower of Freud, and used this method on his own patients. He began to discover that behind the personal unconscious there was a collective unconscious. This contained motifs which could not be traced to the patient’s past, but which found echoes in folk tales, fairy tales, and in literature that had been written from the oral tradition.

Jung called these motifs archetypes of the collective unconscious, and saw them as mental images of human instincts. He found these images in the results of hypnosis of his patients, their dreams, great literature - especially seminal literature, like the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer, and the Bible - and in the delusions of schizophrenics.

Jung’s essay in Man and his Symbols only briefly mentions what has been his most popular innovation, which has been to develop the dichotomy between introversion and extroversion. People who have never heard of Jung know what the difference between an extrovert and an introvert is. An extroverted person responds primarily to his or her environment. An introverted person responds primarily to what is happening in his or her mind. Extroverted people enjoy the company of many people. Introverted people prefer solitude, or the company of a close friend.

Jung explained the difference between introversion and extroversion in his essay “General Description of the Types.” A text of this essay can be found on the internet.

There are advantages to introversion. Nevertheless, introverts tend to have more difficulty developing social skills. This is because they tend to avoid people, and they tend not to observe how people interact. This makes it difficult for them to learn what kind of behavior is appropriate in various situations.

Jung’s work on introversion and extroversion has gone into the development of the Myers Briggs personality test. This is used to help people find what kind of occupations they are best suited for.

http://www.the store.com/Essentials-Myers-Briggs-Type-Indicator-Assessment/dp/0470343907

Introverts and extroverts can benefit from reading “General Description of the Types,” and from taking the Myers Briggs personality test.

Jung’s other assertions have not become the consensus among mental health professionals. Like Sigmund Freud he emphasized dream analysis. He considered dreams to be a window to the collective unconscious. Most therapists only discuss dreams if their patients mention them.

Over the years I have had two dreams that were complex, and which seemed to have archetypical significance. I have never really understood them.

During the past year and a half I have written down what I remembered of my dreams when I woke up. Frequently I only remember the last part of what seems to have been a much longer dream. The effect is like picking up a novel, and reading several pages toward the end.

Some of the dreams express feelings I have when awake. Some deal with memories in my conscious mind. Most lack any obvious significance at all. This is typical: “A woman locks herself into a public library. On the outside people are buying seeds and sprouts for spring planting.”

In “Approaching the unconscious,” Jung writes, “I can never understand somebody else’s dream well enough to interpret it correctly.”

I cannot understand the dream I mentioned either. I doubt it has significance. Any effort to find significance in it would probably be contrived.

In his essay Jung draws attention to “anima” figures that appear in dreams and fairytales. The anima is a female figure that possesses aspects in the man contemplating the anima. The animus is a male figure that possesses aspects in the woman contemplating the animus.

A more prosaic way to explain anima and animus is to acknowledge that men are usually attracted to women with whom they have interests and values in common. Women are usually attracted to men with whom they have interests and values in common.

In his essay, “Psychology of the Unconscious,” which is not included in this anthology, Jung discusses The Song of Hiawatha, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In his discussion Jung finds significance in the fact that “Whatever [Hiawatha] kills, for the most part, lies next to or in the water, sometimes half in the water and half on the land.”

The Song of Hiawatha was inspired by American Indian folk tales written down by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. I have read those folk tales. The motif of “half in water and half on the land” does not appear. Nor does it appear in other literature inspired by the oral tradition, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Nibelungenlied, the Volsunga Saga, Beowulf, or the Ramayana.

A motif that Jung thinks is even more important than "half in the water and half on the land" is the motif of the dual mother. I cannot find that reflected in other literature inspired by the collective unconscious either.

I wish Jung had discussed the Legend of Perseus. This is alluded to in the Iliad. In ancient Greek and Roman literature it is told in its entirety by Apollodorus, Ovid, and Lucian. From then it survived in the oral tradition for nearly two thousand years to appear in Grimm’s Fairytales as “The Two Brothers.” It appears in Italian fairy tales as “The Dragon with Seven Heads,” and “The Sorcerer’s Head.” It appears in other European fairy tales as well.

The Legend of Perseus was written about in a book by that name by Edwin Sidney Hartland. This was published in 1894, so Jung would have had access to it.

http://www.the store.com/The-Legend-Perseus-Tradition-Custom/dp/1481035738

In this legend Perseus kills a witch named Medusa, and goes on to rescue Andromeda from a dragon. The motif of rescuing a maiden from a dragon is international. It appears in the Shinto chronicle, the Nihongi.

http://www.the store.com/Nihongi-Chronicles-Japan-Earliest-Times/dp/0415594006

The dragon appears internationally in myth, legend, and fairytales. It can be seen as a mythological image of the instinctive fear of snakes humans share with the other primates. The fire that comes from the dragon’s mouth can be seen as a mythological image of the snake’s poison fangs. Unfortunately, Jung draws little attention to the archetype of the dragon.

I believe that the collective unconscious does exist. I believe that it contains images of many of the same archaic instincts alluded to in E.O. Wilson’s Sociobiology the New Synthesis.

http://www.the store.com/Sociobiology-Synthesis-Twenty-Fifth-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0674002350

I also believe that the collective unconscious is less detailed, and somewhat differently populated than Jung asserts.

The second essay is by Joseph L. Henderson. It is entitled, “Ancient myths and modern man.” Henderson briefly mentions Perseus, and discusses how heroes in ancient legends often have tutelary figures he and Jung refer to as “the wise old man.” The wise old man appears in the Star Wars movie as Obe Wan Kenobi, who instructs the fledgling hero, Luke Skywalker.

The third essay is “The process of individualization,” by M. – L. von Franz. In this von Franz discusses the archetype of the shadow. The shadow is a hostile archetype on whom one projects negative characteristics one does not want to admit in oneself.

Shadow projections are apparent in politics. If you read Nazi propaganda about the Soviet Union, or Soviet propaganda about Nazi Germany, all you need to do is switch a few names and propaganda written by one side reads like propaganda written by the other side.

Von Franz also discusses the anima and the animus, although in greater detail than I think is accurate. He divides each into four kinds of anima and animus. He also describes the Wise old Man.

The fifth essay is entitled “Symbols in an individual analysis,” by Jolande Jacobi. The patient was a young man who was shy, introverted, lacked experience with women, and was afraid of life. When the analysis was over he was married, and in a rising career. However, he had been engaged to be married before the analysis began. He already had a good job as an engineer. One cannot say that the analysis made a major change in his life. It may have enabled him to maintain his career and his marriage.

When I read Man and his Symbols most recently I did so more skeptically than when I read it as a young man. I still see Carl G. Jung as a great thinker, who was worth the several years I spent studying his writings. One should read a psychiatrist or a psychologist for insight rather than doctrine. If what he or she writes helps you to understand and solve your emotional problems, keep reading. If not, keep looking for someone else.

After watching John Freeman interview Carl G. Jung for a BBC interview, a managing director of Aldus Books convinced Freeman to work with him to help persuade Jung to write about his ideas on Jungian psychology, ancient myths, and related symbols in a way that non-academics readers could understand. After one of Jung's dreams offered positive inferences on the issue of creating this book, Jung agreed to do it. But only as a collection of essays, including his four most admired and trusted colleagues in the project, and with Freeman as the coordinating editor. This book, written in easy to understand language, allows readers with average intelligence to understand many of Jung's complicated concepts and ideas about the unconscious and the meaning of symbols in dreams, archetypes, myths and folktales, personal therapeutic work, and the visual arts. There are many black and white photographs or illustrations throughout all five essays, bringing enlightening clarity to the authors' words. The full-bodied and useful information this book covers could easily be included in any curriculum covering psychology related to storytelling, mythology, or tale-types or excellent resource for personal growth related to symbolism.

Ms. Jamieson Haverkampf,
M.F.A. Creative Writing candidate at Northwest Institute of Literary Arts (specializing in writing for children and young adults) and author of the 4-time award winning 500+ resource guide Mom Minus Dad
Mom Minus Dad: The Essential Resource Guide for Busy Adults with a Newly Widowed Parent
Mom Minus Dad: The Essential Resource Guide for Busy Adults with a Newly Widowed Parent Kindle book

If anthropology is the study of what it means to be human, we may consider Jung as much an anthropologist as a formative psychologist, for he does well to remind us unabashedly of what man truly is - a thinking animal, but a chthonic animal nonetheless. Though we may like to think otherwise, civilized man is not so different from archaic man. "Thoughts ... are a relatively late discovery of man," he stresses, and yet, as Joseph Campbell points out, "consciousness thinks it's running the shop. But [in fact] it's a secondary organ of a total human being, and it must not put itself in control. It must submit and serve the humanity of the body." The "human body represents a whole museum of organs, each with a long evolutionary history behind it." Truly, "Modern man is in fact a curious mixture of characteristics acquired over the long ages of his mental development. This mixed-up being is the man and his symbols that we have to deal with."

Contemporary man "is blind to the fact that, with all his rationality and efficiency, he is [still] possessed by powers that are beyond his control. His gods and demons have not disappeared at all; they have merely got new names. They keep him on the run with restlessness, vague apprehensions, psychological complications, an insatiable need for pills, alcohol, tobacco, food -- and above all, a large array of neuroses." In other words, "What we call civilized consciousness has steadily separated itself from the basic instincts. But these instincts have not disappeared. They have simply lost their contact with our consciousness and are thus forced to assert themselves in an indirect fashion."

In short, our intimacy with the total psyche has been an unfortunate jetsam of evolved society. But Jung points out, "As a plant produces its flower, so [we know] the psyche creates its symbols. Every dream is evidence of this process." Thus, through these symbols, through these echoes of the unconscious, we can again come to know and relate to the whole Self. Cultivating a relationship with these symbols means becoming more familiar with the unknown parts of one's Self (and also with the selfsame struggles of ancient man). Jung reminds us that "the study of individual, as well as of collective, symbolism is an enormous task", but with his help we find ourselves much closer to accomplishment.

This book is a good early read for understanding Jung, but it's not a true introduction. Terms are rarely defined before being used and it can make much of the points a bit obscure. I recommend reading Jung's Map of the Soul by Murray Stein as an introduction, as it is far more clear and systematic. That said, once you have that basic understanding of Jungian Psychology, this book is worth reading.

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.

A symbol, Jung explains, is a word, picture, photograph, statue, etc. that always signifies something much larger than what we immediately know, and therefore points to the unconscious.

In this book, Jung first introduces us (the lay public) to the unconscious and it's machinations that can be found in personal ticks, social characteristics, dreams and fantasies. The unconscious can manifest personally in the complex, those group of personal characteristics we acquire through private experience, and the archetype, the 'motif' behind the group symbol such as the religious symbol of the Cross, or the fairy tale image of the Old Wise Man.

The unconscious, you see, is just as much, if not more, a part of the Psyche as the consciuos ego is, and therefore plays a large role in the development and sustainment of all major human achievements such as Religion, the Sciences, Arts and so forth. Even the most logical scientific theory contains projected unconscious elements of the scientist, Jung reminds us, perhaps the most telling in the post-enlightenment age.

Following is a grand sweeping presentation of the symbol in Religion, Science and Art and even the mundane everyday experience of the individual that though is comprehensive, doesn't dwell too long on any of it's subjects. Breadth, and not depth for each subject seems to be preferrred here, as this remember is an introduction and not written for the specialist.

A wonderful 'get to know you' book from Carl Jung in his late years at the close of his psychiatric career. Everyone should be introduced to this man and his far-reaching ideas...

This is written for a mass audience and is probably Jung's most accessible work. It remains one of the best psychology books written for a wide audience. It can still be a difficult read as it seems geared towards college students. As many reviewers have noted, Jung wrote only one part of this book while his students do the rest. However, I have much more of an appreciation for Jung, psychology, art and many other things after reading this great book. Creative art psychotherapies (art, dance, music, drama, poetry) trace their roots back to Jung. Since Jung's other works are much more difficult this is a good place to start. The book is divided into 5 parts: 1) Approaching the Unconscious, 2) Ancient Myths and Modern Man, 3) Process of Individuation, 4) Symbolism in the Visual Arts, and 5) Symbols in An Individual Analysis. Each part is roughly 50-75 pages. The first part was written by Dr. Jung himself.

Buy this book!

This is a good book for those who want to familiarize themselves with the psychological ideas of Carl Jung. Jung is a titan in the development of psychology. He wrote an impressive essay in this book that highlights the importance of dreams, archtypes, and the collective unconscious. Jung's ideas are well articulated and accessible to laymen. The book also includes essays from from some prominent Jungian disciples. These essays are of good quality, but they lack the clarity and passion of Jung's essay. The other writers highlight important Jungian concepts such as anima/animus, individuation, and synchronicity. However, these authors write using more jargon and the communication of key concepts is not well articulated in spots. One thing that the disciples do not do as well is use cogent examples of the interpretation of dreams. Jung himself used much more precise and illuminating examples of dream interpretation in his essay. Overall, it is a very interesting read.

Steven B. Herrmann, PhD, MFT
Author of "Walt Whitman: Shamanism, Spiritual Democracy, and the World Soul"

I read this book thirty-five years ago and it is still one of my favorites. With the recent publication of Jung's Red Book we can now see where his descent into the archaic psyche began, what its roots were in the various dialogues he conducted with figures of his imagination, and what his breakthrough to the origin of religions revelations might have to contribute to the challenges in our contemporary world situation that is rapidly witnessing a meltdown in monotheistic fundamentalism currently plaguing the globe. C. G. Jung's seven brilliant essays "Symbols and the Interpretation of Dreams" written in fluent English and published shortly after his death in 1961, form the last summation of his monumental life work and it is still the best book around on dream analysis for the professional and the layperson alike. I can gladly say that what stands out for me most as a post-Jungian writer and poet is the accent Jung places on language. He writes in such an effortless way, I feel, that it boggles the mind. This may be Jung's masterpiece. I recommend Jung's seven essays to all readers at whatever level they might be in their exploration of the human mind. The other chapters in "Man and His Symbols" are all exceptionally well written by his closest followers; all are great teachers of Jung's psychology of individuation, particularly Marie-Louise von Franz, and Joseph L. Henderson.

What Jung says in this book is that analysis is an individual endeavor engaged in between patient and analyst, and we must come to this work without any pre-formed theoretical ideas; more importantly, all depth-psychotherapists must be mindful of this: dreams can only be understood when "we are able to learn the language of the patient" and "we must pay particular attention to the language of dreams that are symbolic." "The study of this language," Jung adds "is almost a science in itself" (227).

The language of dreams and their interpretation arises from the patient's "original nature" (255) and in order to understand what this is, we would be wise to take clues from "children" and so-called "primitive societies." What Jung suggests here is that to interpret dreams correctly, we need to scrutinize the "archaic remnants" of the human mind to arrive at "tap-root." By this he means we need to get to know the "archaic mind" or "archaic man" inside each person, "whose psyche was still similar to that of an animal" (228). The "archaic psyche," Jung writes, is what we were as children. We were that mind, but did not know it because we were completely submerged within it. This means we carry the archaic history of humankind from the cradle to mid-life to old age and death.

In the seventh Essay there is a footnote, moreover, a reference to Mircea Eliade's masterpiece "Shamanism." Jung points to the indistinguishability here between dream images and emotions. The two, affect and image, exist side by side, he says. It is precisely their "emotionality," Jung asserts that gives dream images such "critical importance." When a dream image is stripped of its emotion, or "numinosity," Jung cautions all we are left with is a "word picture" (258). Thus, the task of the depth-psychologist is to stay attuned to the emotions, the feeling-toned rhythms of dream images.

Because we have stripped the sacred of its mystery and numinosity, moreover, Jung says that "nothing is holy any longer" (254). Jung conjectures that our subjective consciousness has forgotten that "God speaks chiefly through dreams and visions" (262) and because the world's religions have not retained much of their "original numinosity," we need to turn to our "original revelations" to uncover the truths of our own individual Selfhood. By this Jung means that "infantile memories" still contain imprints of "archetypal modes of psychic functioning" that are the primary channels or psychic gateways for "a greater extension of consciousness" (259).

Jung was at pains to point out in the end that people today are "painfully aware of the fact that neither" our "great religions" nor our "various philosophies" can provide us with "those powerful ideas that would give" us the "certainty" we need "in face" of the present world situation (261). "Change must begin with one single individual" he says and "it might be any one of us" (261).

This is a book for beginners and analysts; for the highly specialized depth-psychologist and layperson alike. It is one of the best books around: Jung's final summation of his monumental life-work.

Carl Jung and his colleagues have done a great job explaining the symbols that are associated with Man's unconscious. Carl focuses on collective symbols rather than personal symbols that is where he separates from Freud as well. Also he does not support the idea of dreams merely being wish fulfillment as Freud believed it to be.It is very informative and it is a must read book.

As previous reviews have noted, this is not a comprehensive overview of Jung's work. But it is a perfect introduction to some of his most important concepts, with an initial essay by Jung himself & several more by key figures of Jungian thought & work. By directing their focus to very specific points, these essays illuminate Jung's ideas in a clear & accessible way, particularly for the lay reader, for whom this volume was intended.

If there's any one theme, it's that of the Symbol: its power, its manifestations, its meaning to the individual. I especially like Aniela Jaffe's "Symbolism in the Visual Arts," which looks at the appearances & continual re-appearances of powerful spiritual symbols through the history of art, illustrated by the work of many fine artists; and also Joseph Henderson's "Ancient Myths and Modern man," which demonstrates how primal symbols, far from being part of humanity's past, are still quite present & working within the psyche of contemporary culture. But every essay is well worth reading & re-reading.

Jung's goal with this volume was to provide a primer of sorts, a beginner's guide to the riches & mysteries of the human psyche. In this he succeeded -- I can't imagine anyone reading this book & not coming away with a deeper appreciation & better understanding of the inner universe. Highly recommended!

I expected that Dr. Jung would explain how symbols help us to solve problems! He rambled about the stories and myths people tell, but failed to make the connection to our emotional experiences and the motivation to define danger! I was surprised that a doctor so celebrated lacked scientific acuity!

I picked up a copy of this book in Mendocino, CA just after I graduated from college and was trying to figure out what to do with my life. For those of you who are somewhat introverted, academic, or artistic, you may find that his book changes your view and helps begin the process of what Jung (and now other therapists) call the "individuation" process, or normal unfolding of human life. I ended following my bliss and doing all kinds of things that have made me a very happy, very satisfied and yet unendingly curious person. I am now studying to be a therapist, and whether or not I graduate is not the point. The journey and the dream images and meaning we assign to them are the whole point. Life became a meaningful joy for me and (no kidding) this book was the ONLY source of that inspiration.

I have the coffetable version of this book, which is much larger and in color, but the smaller paperback will also do...I'm sure the pictures are good enough. It is the words, not the pictures, that change your life. Who knew that western individualistic humanism was such a powerful and compelling force of psychology?

This book changed my life for the better permanently. Read it.

The works of Jung have been, in my opinion, under-rated. The 'discovery' of the 'unconscious' in the 1900s has been said by some to be discredited. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, certain interpretations/'meanings'/aspects etc of the'unconscious ' have been quite rightly discredited, much as occurs in any major discovery/field of science. Much of what Sigmund Freud has said, to some, has been discredited. But in my view, the works of Jung are far better and more accurate, for example, than those of his more famous colleague (Freud), and the progress of science seems to be bearing this out. Freud placed far too much emphasis on the sexual side of our natures, in which findings in psychology and other fields has proved time and again. However, just because some have misintepreted various aspects of the 'unconscious' doesn't of course mean that the theory of the 'unconscious', however you want to define it, is discredited.
Jung has contributed much to our understanding of ourselves and our inherited 'instincts', if you prefer, in the 20th century. His discourses are providing some input, for example, to the growing field of evolutionary pychology; that is, much of our behaviour is inherited from evolutionary processes. This is also the very same view, as I understand it, of Jung.
The theory of the unconscious is by no means dead, and this book explains in a clear and meaningful way many of Jungs and others findings in this fascinating field. Much that goes on in religion and myth and superstition, for example, is not well understood by science; much of this book seeks to explain it. In my opinion , for what it is worth, there is much to be learned here.
Jungs contributions will continue to provide input to various fields of human study for years to come. This book proivides a very good overview of many of his ideas, and was one in which he intended to write for the general public.
Recommended for those who wish to obtain a deeper understanding of their natures, and the nature of that of mankind in general.

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.

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.

The Swiss Carl Jung and the Austrian Sigmund Freud are the annointed fathers of Psychanalisys, with due precedence to be ascribed to Freud, some 25 years Jung's senior and who broke loose with early tradition who saw the manifestation of the unconscious as unmeaningful. Both were men of the XIX century but their achievements changed the face of earth in the XX century . The excelent book "Man and his Symbols" is in all respects emblematic of many important facets of Jung's thoughts and ideas on the unconscious, being one of the last books he wrote and/or supervised before his death in old age, which ocurred many years after Freud's passed away in 1939 in London. In fact, the deaths of the two most important figures in Psychanalisys are emblematic of their lives, Freud dying an agonizing death to throat cancer and asking for the final shot which would take him to the depths of eternity (whatever this may be in Freud's mind) whilst Jung died naturally of old age and wholy mystical, almost religious. "Man and His Symbols" is quintessential Jung, with plenty of his vigor and energy, even if he did not write himself all the six essays of the book, but only a very important one concerning the fundamental role Dreams play in our life as a whole. It is in fact the only book by Carl Jung originally targeted to the non-professional reader and devoid of almost all psychanalytic jargon, thus making the reading of the book a pleasant experience to the non-professional reader like myself; all the five essaysts are bona fide Jung followers or adherents to his ideas. The idea of having a book targeted to the layman drew a lot of personal energy from Jung, always keen on having the right word for the right psychical situation (the same could be said of Freud). But, in the end, he gave in and agreed on the project's idea which was to popularize Jung's ideas throughout the world.
The book is an important document of Jung's thought in the final days of his long and prolific life and stresses the many differences in important points of view he had vis-'a-vis Sigmund Freud, who, in the beginning of their relationship in 1906, was almost a father figure to the younger Jung and to whom Jung was supposed to be the heir apparent in the field of Psychanalisys. But Jung and Freud splitted apart their relationship on very personnal matters, due to Freud's lack of confidence in anyone but himself. The acerbic and bitter feud between the two, is documented in the many letters they exchanged for almost a decade and, in my opinion, Freud is the only one to blame, being a man of extremely bad temper and all too skitishy, with an overpowering ego with no admission of any wrinkle in the front of his followers scouts . There is a pretty much good medium sized book who documents the increasingly acerbic correspondence between the two, called "The Freud-Jung Letters" and which is also a good read, even in the available abridged version. In the same vein, see the quasi autobiographic essay by Jung and Anne Jafet, "Memories, Dreams and Reflections", where Jung (hesitatingly) talks about having reached in his last days the equilibrium between conscious and unconscious life, something he said to be one of the most important achievements of his.
In Jung's view, symbols are important archetypal manifestations of man's powerfull unconscious and occur in each and every human society, primitive or advanced, and could not be simply dismissed or ruled out, as always civilized societies do, as only belonging to ancient backward peoples. According to Jung, symbols are archetypal manifestations of our innermost unconscious mental life and have an important role in balancing our waking life as long as we let them play unscathed and don't see them as something that we must be scared of. But, exactly from where symbols come? How do they get formed? In Jung's view, nobody will never know a precise answer for that question, which is to be placed in the dominion of the perpetually Unkown, and all societies seem to think that they were formed many aeons ago in the time of their ancestors, an always wrong assumption when we know that even ancient Greeks and Egyptians thought this way. Symbols, as many other things, simply do Exist and Are and play an important function in helping men by balancing their acts and lives, having although a disruptive influence whenever not correctly interpreted and unduly repressed. As Jung remembers, Goethe said in Faust: In the beginning there was the ACT. Symbols may be a timeless representation of things to be done and not to be thought out. But what are they? Couldn't they be messages from God? Different from Freud, a very irreligious man and who bashed even Jewish religion in his magistral books "Moses and Monotheism" and "Totem and Taboo", the open-minded and mystical Jung thinks that symbols can even be messages from an upper entity. Civilized men, betting all their chips in Reason as supreme, that is, in the primacy of a conscious (rational) attitude towards life, have increasingly attached an "off-limits" tag to the unconscious, thus spliting the psyche into two entities apart, not benefiting from the positive influence the unconscious may and should have on our being as a whole.
The many black and white pictures and images profusely portrayed in the book help the reader a lot in understanding the jungian message about the significance of symbols and this paperback amazingly lightweight edition is agreeable to handle and flip and to carry along with one self. "Man and his Symbols" is a pretty much good book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Two names are synonomous with the field of psychology/psychoanalysis, Freud and Jung. This is reputedly Jung's last project/publication before his death in 1961 and is an excellent primer and synopsis of his work in the field. Jung edited this book and wrote the first chapter on the importance of symbols before unleashing writings from his students/protegees.
As a whole this book covers an incredible array of subjects, relating in layperson's terms the importance of symbols in the unconscious, the role of the unconscious through dreams in communicating these symbols to the analsand and analyst. I believe Jaffe, though could stand corrected examines various motifs and symbols synthesising the previous works into an observation of Jung's theories on the collective unconscious and its influence on individuals and the process of individuation.
This is as I said an excellent primer because although it is a good text for those taking psych 101(I am excluded from this group so don't know if it is text, but could/should be), it is written with a clarity that carries a universal appeal, making it recommended reading for anyone who wishes to understand psychology better and more important perhaps anyone who wishes to understand themselves better without resorting to new agey dream dictionaries.

If one is not acquainted with the foundational tenets of analytical psychology, reading Carl Jung can be a daunting task. Similar to any school of thought, Jung's depth psychology has its own unique language, and understanding these specialized terms is essential to grasping even a small portion of the subject. In Jung's later years, he dreamed of speaking to a multitude of people about the collective unconscious and its symbols. This dream proved to be very important to the old doctor because he sincerely believed that modern civilization was coming to an end and thought it a dire necessity that his work be understood by the wider public in order for a kind of "collective-psychic-healing" to begin. In the end, he at least wanted the "educated layman" to have a fundamental understanding of the mind. Man and his Symbols is a successful attempt towards this goal.

Dr. Jung dictated part one of this book, "Approaching the Unconscious". For the most part, however, this is a collaboration of Jungians writing on the subject's most basic tenets, such as the nature of the unconscious, the collective unconscious and its dreams and symbols.

In part two, "Ancient Myths and Modern Man", Dr. Joseph L. Henderson elaborates on historical symbols as archetypes, including the Hero myth and the Archetype as Initiation that has been seen and experienced throughout the ages.

In part three, the famed Jungian, M. L. von Franz, explores `The Process of Individuation", explaining the psyche's natural evolution towards a state of uniting its opposites and becoming whole. Franz details this abstract process in very simple terms, revealing the ultimate goal of all therapies: balance, wholeness and responsibility.

Aniela Jaffe, another one of the original Jungian's, in part four, expounds on the nature of the symbol in the visual arts. This is a revealing chapter as it illustrates how so many similar symbols have appeared in art throughout the world over thousands of years.

Jolande Jacobi, the famed Jungian analyst, in part five, relates the methods of Jungian analysis in terms of the importance of dreams and symbols.

Lastly, von Franz concludes with a brilliant essay on "Science and the Unconscious", summarizing the entire book, and emphasising the importance of symbols and the unconscious and their on-going interpretation in the effort to understanding ourselves.

As was the old doctor's wish, Man and his Symbols opened Jung's work to a wider public. It is an ideal text for anyone interested in analytical psychology, as it explains the subjects at times abstract notions of the mind and the psyche's relation to the world in highly accessible terms. It provides the necessary basics for a general understanding and is a perfect springboard for further study.

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

As other reviewers have pointed out, the editor did not make it sufficiently clear that Dr. Jung only wrote one chapter of this book and that his role was largely in editing it. Nevertheless, the authors that were chosen did a wonderful job of presenting his ideas, and they're as fresh today as they were in the early 60s when the book was written. One cannot help but reflect on the Jungian notions of balance between the collective consciousness and unconscious as we reflect on some of the world events taking place today. The rise of raw fundamental Islam as shadow juxtaposed with the sterile West frequently came to mind. The role of dreams and symbols in processing our ongoing issues was also well developed.

As with all things related to Jung this is not the kind of book that is easily read. However, if you want to become aware of Jungian thought as it pertains to the universality of symbols, the dynamics of dreams and the collective unconscious, this is your book. For a more complete look at Jungian psychology as a whole I would also recommend The Portable Jung.

As other reviewers have stated, this book is one of two that Jung meant for public consumption. It makes for an excellent introduction to dream interpretation and symbolism, but isn't meant to help you interpret your own dreams by providing a list of symbolic meanings as some texts do. Rather, Jung (who wrote the initial essay) and the other authors provide the basic framework for understanding the mechanics of dream interpretation. The concluding piece on Science and the Unconscious, although the shortest essay, is very interesting and provides tantalizing insights into the relationship between physics and psychology. The book was still a challenging work to read and took me quite some time to finish. It was worth the effort.

With the contributions of Dr. Jacob Henderson, Marie von Franz, Aniela Jaffe and Jolande Jacobi, Dr. Carl Gustav Jung paints a fascinating introduction into the world that is the common inheritance of all human kind, the unconscious aspects of the mind.

Revealing in general terms, the underlying influence this largely unexplored world has on our conscious thinking, not only as individuals but collectively as society, the unconscious aspects of the mind are a part of our minds totality.

Encouraging the reader to explore the beginnings, of a journey that will accompany them for a lifetime, this book is very much a invitation to the further discover of ourselves.

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.

This is a fascinating book, not just in that it tries to explain the workings of the mind and what seems to be encoded symbolism within it, but also that it was written at a time when the new quantum physics was breaching into the public domain. It was interesting to read some of the authors trying integrate this into their model of the mind.

The work is somewhat dated (published in 1964) in that none of the latest findings in neurobiochemistry and structural neurology are discussed. I found the chapter on symbolism in the visual arts by Jaffe stretched its arguments a bit too thin for my liking, but was captivated by Jacobi's chapter which describes an analysis.

This is a very good primer to Jung and a worthwile read.

A classic must read for anyone interested in the father of the unconscious and its symbols--the genius who bridged the gap--who wrote of the symbols of the great world religions and the symbols of the unconscious that appear repeatedly in therapy with clients.
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)

This book has totally changed my life - literally. Jung is a genius and anything he's ever written I want to get my hands on. I cannot get enough of his work. But this book sums up all his work in a nutshell, and it does a very good job of it.

The best chapter was written by Jung himself, the other chapters were informative and intriguing but Jung has a special way of writing that totally absorbs you. I really wish that more people would read this book and truly learn something about themselves and each other. It's astonishing how little time we really take to know who we really are. This book slows you down, and makes you take the time. It shows you just how complex and intricate and special the human mind is, the universe is, being is. It's truly eye opening.

I was young, wild and roaming Europe alone in the early 70's. I stood in front of a huge wall of books, and as told to my by an unearthly friend of mine, a book would jump out. That day it was this book. Not your average vacation read. I lost three days of my life, and it sent me back to college where I received a degree in History/ Political Philosophy from UCLA. It's a totem for me, and though I've since bought the illustrated version, I'm reluctant to revisit it.

I'd suggest this book for anyone who wishes to obtain a general understanding of Carl Jung's theories. Man and his symbols provides a general outline of predominant themes that exist in various cultures. Almost every culture shares certain common archtypes. We can trace commonalities in various fertility gods, the belief in angels, demons, etc...

His theories allude to a common origin in these beliefs as well as certain experiences that appear universal to the human condition. This book was helpful but I'd recommend his later work; Archtypes and The Collective Unconscious for a more detailed understanding.

...you still might want to begin with an introductory text like Robin Robertson's Beginner's Guide to Jungian Psychology, to get the most out of this book. Man & His Symbols was written, under Jung's guidance, by those who were closest to him. The task, presented to him by a journalist, was to deliver a broad explanation of Jungian theory so that those of "average intelligence," i.e., with no training, would be able to digest it.

This book offers the layperson an insightful view of the workings of the unconscious mind. It explains the function of symbols in our lives and how they express themselves in our dreams. Jung's archetypes are the human emotions, symbolically expressed through the dream images visited nightly in our sleep. And through the maze of the emotions one will find a metaphysical (spiritual) foundation, properly expressed in the symbolic forms hidden in the deep unconscious realms of the psyche. Jung is talking about the soul.

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.

This is one book everyone should read and be acquainted with. There aren't many books that can make this kind of claim. First, it is written so that the average person can understand it on first reading without intensive study. This isn't a grandiose claim, given that so much of early psychology is now an integral feature of social institutions.
Secondly, it is largely purged of some of Jung's more outrageous and nonsensical ideas, like his "collective unconscious." The scope of the book is limited primarily to the effect and use of symbols in everyday life, particularly as it affects dreams.
Third, everyone dreams, and after reading this book, the reader will have a great tool by which to analyze many of these dreams. Those who try to interpret their dreams literally (like reading the Bible literally) discover they have missed the point. The dreams of the subsconscious are symbolic images that need to be thoroughly interpreted in light of specific symbols and the meaning of these symbols -- and not the dream narrative itself.
Finally, mankind is defined by its being a rational animal with linguistic capacity. Language itself is both audible and visual signs and symbols of the mind. The very words we use to describe life's events are often chosen for their symbolic capacity, which can lead to an imprisonment of the mind or its liberation from man and his symbols.

Carl Jung's research is based almost entirely upon individual case studies. Because the mind is not fully understood, Carl Jung's work cannot be fully understood. Some of Carl Jung's concepts have yet to be explained scientifically, but he accumulated far too much supporting data to ignore. These mysteries and symbols appeal to me intuitively. Keep an open mind, and your skepticism will likely be quieted the way mine was. This book is a summary of his life's work tailored to the general public. Reading this book and studying the work of Carl Jung has provided me with precious insight into my psyche and the psychology of people around me. The study and analysis of my dreams yielded valuable understanding of myself and my unconscious. Each time I uncover the meaning of one of my dreams I grow that much more mature. It is as though my mind expands ever so slightly.

I'm not a major student of psychonalysis or Jungian psychology but my review may be helpful for the beginner. I liked man and his symbols because it is probably the best introduction to jung. I liked it because it was so readable. I tried to read Jung's other books but (and i don't know why) they were NOT as readable. I think that this book is designed for beginners. Jung fills in a lot of gaps that I couldn't understand about people in general. Jung is also willing to go beyond what Freudian psychology would. Freud explains all neurosis as a sexual frustration. Jung takes a broader approach.

It's readable and enlightening.

This book changed my life. The discovery of the unconscious is a wonderful and exciting process. This book helps one to understand the human race through symbols and ultimately oneself. Carl Jung is one of the most insightful thinkers of our time. The hardcover book is a must for all the great pictures. Reading pace may be slow, but it is sometimes necessary in order to gain a greater understanding of the material.

This is the last and perhaps the most important book written by Dr. Carl Gustav Jung. He was among the first to interpret dreams and amazingly this book came about *because* of a dream. Jung dreamt he was talking about this topic to a large audience who were *not* psychiatrists and psychologists - evidently *his* unconcsious put it's stamp of approval on this project! This book is a great introduction to the "hidden" meaning of the symbols used in legends, medieval archetecture, classic books, and ancient myths as well as dreams. Patterns of psychic growth and development, individuation and transcendence are explained along with other psychological terms with real life examples at times. It is not about depth psychology or sociopathic problems.

One chapter was written by C.G. Jung, the others were written by his eminent followers, among whom are: M.L. von Frantz, Joseph L. Henderson, Angela Jaffe, and Jolande Jacobi. This book is a "must have" for anyone who is interested in learning more about human behavior from the "inside out".
Erika Borsos (erikab93)

The last shall be first is demonstrated in this book-Jung's last book is his first attempt at communicating with the general public. It includes an essay on symbolism-a key element in Jungian psychology and a main reason for his break with Freud. Symbols are necessary to Individuation (the goal of Jungian analysis) per page 99: "Symbols are natural attempts to reconcile and unite opposites within the psyche." And, as Marie-Louise von Franz puts it on page 205: "Only by accepting earthly contact and suffering can the human soul be transformed into a mirror in which the divine powers can perceive themselves."

This book is easier to read than the symbolism books in Jung's Collected Works. On the other hand, it really isn't a good survey of Jungian psychology because it doesn't directly address many of his most important topics, but then it wasn't designed to do so. But, following Jung's essay are essays of many of his immediate disciples who provide pithy commentaries on various Jungian topics-and provide me with more quotes for my collection!

Jung does point out a significant practical difference between his psychological process and those of others-he takes the client/patient's intuitions etc. into consideration and that part of his process is to teach psychology to the patient:

p. 61 "The patients resistance to the analyst's interpretation is not necessarily wrong; it is rather a sure sign that something does not `click.' Either the patient has not yet reached the point where he understands, or the interpretation does not fit."

This book may not be appreciated by left brain Thinker types or adherents to other, rationally-oriented types of psychology. As Jolande Jacobi says (page 290): "People who rely totally on their rational thinking and dismiss or repress every manifestation of their psychic life often have an almost inexplicable inclination to superstition. They listen to oracles and prophecies and can be easily hoodwinked or influenced by magicians and conjurors."

While working as a scientist/engineer for about 39 years, I have interacted with many "rational" people similarly employed who will cling to (what seems to me) irrational myths of religion, politics, etc. while rejecting any evidence of the existence of the unconscious, the value of dreams, etc. Me thinks they doth protest too much.

When I picked up this book all I knew about Jung was that he was a close associate and friend of Freud. I put it down wanting to read every thing else this man ever wrote. "Man and His Symbols" outlines the Jungian ideas on the unconscious and the symbols it houses that manifest themselves on our dreams. It gives you a wider scope of humanity that proves to be enlightening and comforting in a crazed world. I was quite surprised at how easy this book proved to read in comparison to other psychology books I have read. It provides a clear overview of Jung's life work and a good introduction to his take on psychology as well as the world. Some parts were written in a curiously personal manor that enhanced a spiritual aura this work seemed to take on. This book really struck a deep cord in me and many of the people I have recommended it to.

Jung's work deals extensively with symbolism. Aside from being written for the layperson, one of the great benefits of this book is that it is profusely illustrated. If possible, get the hard cover version. It is larger and better illustrated. The illustrations aren't just gravy, they're an important part of the book.

There are hundreds of images in this book. I appreciate that the author doesnt just talk about the images, but allows you to experience them as he discusses them. While this is a scholarly discussion the images allow you to react emotionally to the content as well as intellectually to the words.

....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.

This is not an attack on Carl Jung. This is not an attack on analytical psychology. This is my beef with this book being written for the general public. Like the principle editor, Joe L. Henderson, I myself am nothing more than your "average reader." If the Fog Index were applied to this book, it would be rated at the reading level of a college student. It's worth mentioning that Reader's Digest, which *is* published for mass appeal, is written for the reading level of an 8th grader. With this in mind, much of the language and sentence structure is cumbersome, and the concepts presented too obtuse for the uninitiated.

There are some flawless gems of wisdom that indeed prove to have timeless appeal. In the chapter The Soul of a Man, Jung quips: "The phallus functions as an all-embracing symbol in the Hindu religion, but if a street urchin draws one on a wall, it just reflects an interest in his penis." This type of stuff caters to my fine tastes. In his thorough, and I mean THOROUGH examination of Henry, a young engineer of 25, Jung examines 50 dreams to conclude what I concluded after reading only the following sentence: "My friend laid his right hand on the man's penis to keep it warm and at the same time to warm his own hand." This is just the tip of the iceberg. Henry continues in his steamy description of the following [wet] dream: "I look at her with curiosity and touch her buttocks. Perhaps, it suddenly seems to me, she is not a woman but a kind of male prostitute." This Henry clearly has repressed homosexual tendencies!

Let me explain. I was unable to extract much that would prove any practical use to myself or others. This book is more of an empirical commentary of how ancient symbolism that is hard-coded into our psyche, plays out in our dreams and subconscious, through religion, art, and science. Even the case studies seemed too far-fetched to apply towards real world psychological dilemmas. At least this guy got to spend some QT with Freud, maybe dipping into his esteemed colleague's coke stash!

This book was originally conceived of and designed in the manner of an illuminated manuscript. The images are combined with the text to convey meaning. In the paperback most of the images are gone and the ones remaining are converted to black and white and shoved into the middle of the book where they lose their context.

I am very upset with the lameness of this book.Its like some cheap way to make money by throwing a bunch of little facts together to make some appear to be really something,Its not.Its like something from Readers Digest or some funky book club.I do not believe this was put together the way Jung would have done.Not what I thought it would be.The next time I think of buying a book I will go to Powells Books,its 8 miles away here by Portland. Sorry for the bad review,its really on the ones who put it together.You really could'nt say "this is a funky book not worth buying"now could you. Don Hawkins

This book was OKAY. I read this book before I got into Lacan, and now Lacan absolutely blows Jung out of the water. Jung is a petty theorist compared to Lacan (sorry to be harsh). Jung is simply pre-psychoanalytic.... this type of symbol interpretation (totems and such) has been around since the history of man. Lacan presents groundbreaking new theories in a logic that is so sharp!!!! Jung is just so elementary now.

This anthology of essays by Jung and his colleagues yields great insights into Jung's school of depth psychology and the psychology of archetypes. This is a must read for any magician and other workers of the mind. One of the later essays reports the revelation that the visions of certain attuned minds answer to some of the images of the quantum realm drawn from experiments in quantum physics. Consciousness is a quantum phenomenon expanded to the human scale of size by the central nervous system.

The book arrived within a few days and was in excellent condition. I always appreciate the comments on the condition of the book. The comments were very helpful. I would recommend the bookstore to others.
Sincerely yours,
James Brandenburg

I am enjoying this book so far and I know that it will continue to hold a five star rating. It has been very helpful in explaining how to interpret dreams through symbols. I am currently taking a course in Sacraments and we are interpreting our dreams in order to understand the meaning of symbols. This is preparing us for an in depth study of the 7 Sacraments. I will add more once I am finished with the book.

This book was OKAY. I read this book before I got into Lacan, and now Lacan absolutely blows Jung out of the water. Jung is a petty theorist compared to Lacan (sorry to be harsh). Jung is simply pre-psychoanalytic.... this type of symbol interpretation (totems and such) has been around since the history of man. Lacan presents groundbreaking new theories in a logic that is so sharp!!!! Jung is just so elementary now.

This anthology of essays by Jung and his colleagues yields great insights into Jung's school of depth psychology and the psychology of archetypes. This is a must read for any magician and other workers of the mind. One of the later essays reports the revelation that the visions of certain attuned minds answer to some of the images of the quantum realm drawn from experiments in quantum physics. Consciousness is a quantum phenomenon expanded to the human scale of size by the central nervous system.

The book arrived within a few days and was in excellent condition. I always appreciate the comments on the condition of the book. The comments were very helpful. I would recommend the bookstore to others.
Sincerely yours,
James Brandenburg

I am enjoying this book so far and I know that it will continue to hold a five star rating. It has been very helpful in explaining how to interpret dreams through symbols. I am currently taking a course in Sacraments and we are interpreting our dreams in order to understand the meaning of symbols. This is preparing us for an in depth study of the 7 Sacraments. I will add more once I am finished with the book.

The content is classic and deserves better quality presentation. How about a hardcover? The paper is cheap and already turning brown. The print is miniscule and could be a font size or two larger. I want to buy books to continue building a quality library, not a cheap throw-away.