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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellently Developed Theory, May 15, 2010
This review is from: Demystifying Meaningful Coincidences (Synchronicities): The Evolving Self, the Personal Unconscious, and the Creative Process (Hardcover)
This book represents one of the best explications currently available on the problem of "synchronicity." I am qualified to say this because I am doing my own scientific research projects on the subject and I know the existing literature well enough that I am confident to say very few other authors have put forward a viable psychoanalytically based model. The first part of this book is about the best explanation and definition of the issues surrounding synchronicity that one will find. Williams clarifies the distinctions between Freud's deterministic views on these types of "coincidences" and Jung's occult/numinous interpretations. He pinpoints that there must be a flaw with Jung's "acausal" model if the synchronistic events have meaning in the context of personal growth and development. He begins where others have left off at the purely psychopathological level (i.e. regressive theories) and adds an important piece to the puzzle by interpreting the synchronicities as attempts to make new connections to construct a solid reality of the world from a fragmented "self." The second part of the book is basically a journal or diary and contains some perhaps extraneous personal anecdotes that were a little too detailed for my own tastes. But then again, it is not uncommon to present a personal story to show how one developed a new belief or view of the world. It is also important to note that William's argument is more convincing because he admits he began with a less rational view of the world and eventually, through hard experience and knowledge, grew to become confident about a fully rational psychodynamic approach. The third part of the book is a summary of the formulated theory, and the fourth part discusses some therapeutic applications. I am currently fully "digesting" this material and will be referencing Williams in my own research next year, because I also strongly believe in this type of a fully rational scientific approach to Jung's concept. In my opinion, there are too many other books out there right now invoking "spooky action at a distance" quantum mechanical mechanisms etc. (an issue that Williams skillfully avoids but has properly identified as the "parapsychological" approach to synchronicity). I fully agree with Williams that the real mechanisms are most likely to be based on aspects of an individual's subjective experience and personal growth, whatever that ultimately means. Whatever the case and whatever relatively minor issues there might be with this book, I believe it represents a rather important piece of progress in the ongoing struggle to understand synchronicity.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gibbs' journey through coincidence, July 26, 2010
This review is from: Demystifying Meaningful Coincidences (Synchronicities): The Evolving Self, the Personal Unconscious, and the Creative Process (Hardcover)
In "Demystifying Meaningful Coincidences" the author takes us on personal, historic and intellectual journey through psychology, the occult and the Hatfield-McCoy feud between the Jungians and Freudians. Steeped in philosophy and clinical psychology, Dr. Williams gives air to the conflicting traditional interpretations of synchronicities. His own journey, and those of his coincidence-prone patients, give rise to a new, naturalistic approach to these occurrences. The author succeeds in bringing a well-grounded, breakthrough interpretation to the land of synchronicities - an interpretation that is neither magical nor dismissive. (Full disclosure: the author is a family member.)
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Demystifying Meaningful Coincidences (Synchroonicities): The Evolving Self, The Personal Unconsciour, and the Creative Process, March 4, 2010
This review is from: Demystifying Meaningful Coincidences (Synchronicities): The Evolving Self, the Personal Unconscious, and the Creative Process (Hardcover)
Yes, this book is a breakthrough in looking at synchronicities systematically and rationally and . . . . See I have to keep reading, but I am finding the book very interesting and am enjoying it very much. Most interesting to me is the value of synchronicities in the creative process, and finding ones way to a goal or destination with the aid of these until now, seemingly unexplainable experiences. I, without actually knowing it, have been waiting for a book that looks at these very real and significant synchronicities and coincidences we all experience, as something other than a spiritual message from outside our own consciousness and thinking. This book is providing more information and understanding than I have thought possible for synchronicities and reflects the result of years of collecting and analyzing information by Gibbs Williams. [ASIN:0765707020 Demystifying Meaningful Coincidences (Synchronicities): The Evolving Self, the Personal Unconscious, and the Creative Process]
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