Death of a Hero, Birth of the Soul: Answering the Call of Midlife [Paperback]

John C. Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1997

The "Hero Journey" from dependent child to responsible adult is a central theme in all the world's mythologies. At the same time, the equally compelling journey from youth to middle age has been largely ignored. John Robinson sets out to correct that oversight in Death of a Hero, Birth of the Soul, a study of the spiritual and psychological realities of male midlife. By blending psychological research, mythology, poetry, mysticism, and personal experiences, Dr. Robinson weaves a story that is uniquely personal and speaks to the heart of every individual excited about the possibilities of entering the second half of life.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

John Robinson presents the compelling journey from youth to middle age in this study of the spiritual and psychological realities of male midlife.

About the Author

John Robinson is a psychologist and psychotherapist who has lived and practiced in the Sacramento area for over twenty years. He has an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon. Early in his career, he specialized in medical and forensic psychology. His professional activities were changed radically in his early 40s by a series of transformative experiences in depth psychology, the midlife passage, the men's movement, and mystical spirituality. He now lives, works, and writes from the cauldron of his own first hand experience of the male journey of aging.

Product Details

• Paperback: 552 pages
• Publisher: Council Oak Books (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571780432
• ISBN-13: 978-1571780430
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,084,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you want to understand "a man's life"? Start HERE!!!!, January 23, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of a Hero, Birth of the Soul: Answering the Call of Midlife (Paperback)

I'm 49 yo. What's more to say? How about 352 pages that brought tears of recognition and smiles of understanding at a very confusing time of my life. I highly recommend it to men AND women who are interested in a rich passage through life BEFORE, DURING, or AFTER midlife reassessment. Robinson approaches the life of a man from a universal/eternal viewpoint. The text is elaborated, supported, and illustrated with fairy tales and myths from many cultures, as well as principles of modern psychology, Jungian archetypes, and generous doses of poetry and spiritualism. The book is thoroughly entertaining, as well as practically explanatory and comforting. Among much reading that I did to try to understand what was going on in my life, this work was truly pivotal. Just, by chance, this book leapt out at me from a standard bookstore shelf one day, and I've not seen it on the shelves again--a great misfortune for others. If you're interested in understanding "a man's life" and have found this book here on Amazon, take the risk!!!! There is much solace here.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME! Made sense of the doubt & confusion in midlife..., October 20, 1999

By 

Don Goddard - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of a Hero, Birth of the Soul: Answering the Call of Midlife (Paperback)

Told me why it was natural for me to want to transition from a successful engineering career to become an acupuncturist in midlife (in retrospect, as a young child I had visions of becoming either a minister or a doctor--now, I'm a little of both as the owner of Calm Spirit Oriental Medicine). I read this book after many years into the transition--a part of me wishes that I had read it *prior* to starting the switch; another part knows that I wouldn't have appreciated the author's wisdom nearly as much then. I especially enjoyed reading the same material from three different perspectives, including mythology and poetry. Actually spent an evening sharing some of the poetry with my wife, the English teacher. Now, I have loaned my copy to an engineer friend who seemed to need it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 'must read' for men, October 17, 2001

By 

Tin Miner "Hometechie" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of a Hero, Birth of the Soul: Answering the Call of Midlife (Paperback)

John Robinson so accurately describes and maps out the life of men, at least as I have experienced it over the past 40+ years, that it would be frightening if the release and feedom this perspective brings wasn't so exciting. As I read this book many, many experiences in my life started to make so much sense and fall into place. If you have thought that there is something missing or there should be something more to life, then read this book. If you are at a stage where you want to make some changes in your life then the insight this book brings provides you with a wonderful perspective from which to make them. More to the point if you that mid-life age where changes may be happening whether you choose it or not go read!