Customer Reviews

The Basic Writings of C. G. Jung (Modern Library)

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True, Freud may claim his place as the father of modern psychology and psychoanalysis, but his protege and rebellious son Jung has developed his own unique ideas about the unconcious and about man himself. Expecially when compared to Freud, Jung's writing is boistrous, passionately scholarly and even exciting. His synthesis of alchemical and religious symbol into the theory of collective unconscious has been enormously influential on psychology, and is much more interesting than Freud's often-tedious theoretical work. If anything, he is far more fun to read than Freud ever was, and any reader looking to escape his narrow Oedipal strangulation should find Jung refreshing and engrossing reading. If for no other reason than his historical significance, Jung is also a great read. Well worth the time and effort

This is a good way to get an introduction to Jung, but in these selections Jung is also discussing very fundamental issues relevant to any 'deep' psychology. In fact, as some others have noted, some of the similarities between Jung's writing on thought and the structure / function of the psyche are so obviously linkable to at least Wilfred Bion, that it seems as if some of the later psychoanalysts such as Bion were basically 'gateways to Jung' or 'gateways from the personal to the collective unconscious.' Jung wrote at least some of the things that pertain strongly to Bion before Bion did....
You must read this book slowly and carefully. I have colleagues very into psychoanalysis who say that Jung was soft in the head and didn't have consistency in his ideas. First, the psyche--especially the unconscious parts--is not sensical in its entirety. Opposites can coexist in the unconscious with no problem. This Jung actually allows into his writing, but manages to keep it just enough under control to be comprehensible. Second, if you read very closely and very carefully and have any existential or spiritual inclination at all, it becomes obvious that Jung was a dreamer but was not at all soft-headed. As some have said, he simply did not have a gift for brevity and succinctness. This book helps cull the mass of his writings while preserving his difficult (but brilliant) style.

This is a Tome.Mentioned to a Doctor of Psychology had made this purchase, a look of surprise.I realise this is not for a easy read.However,cannot take to Dr.Siegmun Freud's views.Dr.C.G. Jung appears to have had a Soul dwell within at a Time when True Psychoanalysis was as disparate to Medicine as Oil and Water.His Beliefs are stated and One takes from the writings as viewed upon.There is also knowledge prior He was as "flawed" as Anyone Else.Yet,in this Discipline of Science,Everything seems to Matter.Dreams,Colours,Intuition,Synchronicity.All play parts of the wider view that is currently Psychology and Psychiarity as those with different Educations and Understandings will Notice.To read what One wonders is more Truth than from a Critique of this Soul.I can only understand Any Human by Words,Deeds and Actions.From Dr.C.G..Jung I receive an Abundance of Understanding what made His Heart Beat.Why He made Decisions.We are not fully grown in Our Brains until about 12 years of Age. Yet, Reason has been Believed to Be as Early as 6.Our growth is Integral Emotionally as Physically.If in Theraphy,Ask.If learning to be a Nurse~read.To understand the Unknown is a Light on Ignorance.This will shed that Light as Brightly as Possible.I recommend as well Dr.Marion Woodman's books. Also,"Descent To The Goddess".The Best Read of My Life.

why not take the writings directly from the Masters instead of second hand citations? A must for undergrad or grad students.