Introducing Jung [Paperback]

Maggie Hyde (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 1990

Carl Gustav Jung was the most enigmatic and controversial disciple of Sigmund Freud. He introduced to psychoanalysis crucial questions about religion and the soul which Freud neglected. However, our perception of Jung today as a quasi-religious sage with a growing "New Age" following overlooks the fact that he was primarily a scientist and a scholar. This book explains the theories that led Jung to break away from Freud and describes his own near psychotic breakdown in mid-life, a "night-sea voyage" from which he emerged with radical new insights into the nature of the unconscious mind. Step by step, the book demonstrates how it was entirely logical for him to explore the psychology of religion, alchemy, astrology, the I Ching and other phenomena rejected by science in his investigation of his patients' dreams, fantasies and psychic disturbances.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'Clever and witty.' Susie Orbach, Guardian" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Maggie Hyde is a writer, lecturer and journalist and consultant astrologer. Michael McGuiness is an artist, designer and former art director who has had numerous exhibitions of his work throughout the world. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Totem Books (March 16, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1874166056
• ISBN-13: 978-1874166054
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Study Guide, June 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Introducing Jung (Paperback)

Introducing Jung is not the only book I have from totem's "Introducing" series, but it is one of my favorites. It clearly presents many of the ideas that may be glossed over in your intro to psych class. Like all the "Introducing" books, it is not too muddled with details but rather serves as an excellent jumping off point for research in a subject you may be unfamiliar with. The drawings are also helpful and humorous, especially to those more visual learners. These books make great inexpensive gifts for college students, and they are much apreciated when recieved. They are an overall easy read on not so easy subjects and can be referenced over and over again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really well done, insightful, no "dumbing-down", May 8, 2003

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Introducing Jung, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I found this book after I had already read quite a significant amount of Jung's work. I was amazed at how peceptive and witty this treatment really is. It makes a great review for the already knowledgeable, and I can see where it would also be an excellent first introduction.

The book covers Jung's early childhood history, his work and differences with Freud, the basics of Jungian Analytical Psychology, type theory, the psychology of religion, the uncanny and synchronicity, the I Ching, astrology, alchemical speculation, and it even addresses and debunks some of the controversial criticisms of his personal life and work. There is also really useful "little dictionary" in the back for those who are not yet familiar with Jungian terminology, or psychology in general.

The illustrations of this book are not mere cut-and-paste filler and distraction, but they exactly augment and demonstrate the topics being discussed. While some might dismiss this as an instructional comic book, there is no obvious "dumbing down" involved.

This is a excellent and insightful little book. In fact, I intend to read it again.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More a New Age book than an introduction to Jung's psychology, July 3, 2009

By 

Jean-marc Lepain (Vientiane, Laos) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Jung (Paperback)

I bought « Introducing Jung: A Graphic Guide » to see if I could recommend the book to some Lao students who have no knowledge of psychology or psychoanalyse and not a very strong English. I was hoping that reading a cartoon book would be more motivating. However I was disappointed by the content and had to drop the idea. The author Maggie Hyde is not a trained psychologist but a sort of new age journalist who is more interested in every thing that is weird in Jung's work without providing a decent explanation of his psychology. The book focuses too much on Jung's life and not enough on his ideas, but even the biographic part is weak. I have read almost all Jung's works and based on his autobiography, his correspondence and other biographies such as Anthony Steven's I do not think that the presentation of Jung's personality is objective. As for the theoretical aspects there are too many gaps and what is presented is either distorted or superficial. I can only confirm the critic already made on this page by T. Gallion.