Customer Reviews

The Wounded Researcher: Research With Soul In Mind

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I have read and re-read and re-re-read this book. And in ever iteration, new insights, new ways of looking, new ways of relating and working with the soul have emerged. Our humanity is in a constant stream of exploration, we are always researching new ways of thinking, doing, existing and being, so to me this book wasn't just about research methods. It has helped me in allowing my images, and led to innovate and creative ways of writing, but more than that, the book has given me a method as well as the courage to listen to, and take my own unconscious processes seriously, without being embarrassed by "its-just-a-picture" attitude. It has enabled me to explore the previously shut down and inaccessible portions of my objective and subjective consciousness/unconscious. I have, in his words, learnt to re-member the previously dis-membered parts of myself, and to integrate myself into a whole....so it has facilitated me along the path of individuation...

As for the cons, it does require the ability to surrender to the unknown and the unknowing, to unlearn previously learnt "givens." The defensive walls create perceptual barriers to innate, repressed or simply unconscious intelligence that constitutes the core of psyche. Though the method creates experiences which may be observed by the observing ego, there isn't any repetitive constancy - like every flower and its petal, each unfolding experience/phenomenon is unique. For the scientific minded the "what is" of this method may be hard to grasp if the mind remains embroiled in "what should be."

A must read for all those who want to access and cultivate a practice of writing from the depths of their soul....

I strongly support the author's intention to reintroduce the concept of "soul" into psychological research. I am sorry that this book fails to advance this cause.

The author had a genuine insight: a researcher's choice of field is influenced by the researcher's interests and unconscious complexes. Based on that rather slender insight, the author proceeds to work through his own woundedness for another 350 pages or so of dense prose.

Divided haphazardly into four sections - Theory, Process, Method, and Implications - the book contains sentences like: Insofar as the alchemical hermeneutic method is an outgrowth of the imaginal approach, with its research processes of vocation and transference dialogues, it continues the work of deepening the relational aspect by making a place for those other subtle unconscious connections between a researcher and his or her work expressed in dreams, intuitions, feelings, symptoms, and synchronicities.

I enjoy challenging books that reward careful reading and thought, unfortunately this book did not provide those rewards. I was distracted both by the writing and the rather grim tone of the author. I found this tone puzzling since the book was written during a sabbatical in New Zealand, circumstances that would make many of us rather cheerful. I fear that reading this book is also not conducive to cheerfulness.

Having sunk into the depths of "despair" - as I'm sure we all do at some stage whilst undertaking doctoral studies - the book helped me make sense of the "why" and inspired me to get back to it!

Powerful message written in a way that draws the reader (and researcher) closer to their own process and offers information for finding answers at a deep emotional level.