C.G. Jung

Carl Gustav Jung 1st aimed to be an archeologist. Family finances being insufficient, he pursued an M.D. from Basel University. Considering a surgery specialization, he stumbled upon a psychiatry book. It changed the course of his life & ultimately the field of depth psychology. Storr looks at these & other telling facts about Jung's life in his opening chapter. Tho fundamentally concerned with ideas, his approach shows his conviction that "in the realm of dynamic psychology it is impossible to separate ideas from the personality of the man in whom they occurred." His concise review of the whole corpus of Jung's writings always keeps in sight the man behind the work, as each subsequent chapter concentrates on a particular concept, guiding readers thru the life & ideas of this thinker. He investigates the major principles of analytical psychology, presenting central concepts like the collective unconscious, archetypes, the shadow & persona. He looks at Jung's religious turmoil & his need to reconcile objectivity & subjectivity. He shows how his ideas follow a progression from the intellectual agitation of the young psychiatrist to the advanced theories of balance & integration found in the mature man. He concludes with a look at psychotherapy, describing advances as well as problems involved in a practical consideration of Jungian techniques. Perhaps the most remarkable element of Jung is its illumination of complex concepts—concepts that had they been easily accessible in the original would have caused a wider appreciation of Jung's work. The clarity & order he brings to light in Jung's psychology will come as a welcome surprise to those who've found him an obscure if provocative thinker. Its sensitive analysis makes the book compelling reading for everyone interested in Jung & its clear exposition provides a superior introduction for newcomers, allowing the genius of Jung to appear for the widest possible audience.