Recommended Reading

Jungian Thought

Archetypal Dimensions of the Psyche, Marie-Louise von Franz. Shambhala, 1999.
The human race is in transition—rigid old cultural and religious rules no longer apply to our lives; new ways of living in contact with our bodies and with nature, new ethical standards, will be required. Here von Franz presents mythological examples of how the collective psyche points toward, and can guide us through, this transition period.

Archetypal Patterns in Fairy Tales, Marie-Louise von Franz. Inner City Books, 1997.
In-depth interpretations of six fairy tales from six different countries. Another good book from von Franz. See The Interpretation of Fairy Tales, below.

Care of the Soul, A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life, Thomas Moore. HarperPerennial, 1992.
Moore advocates learning to care for yourself, rather than trying to cure yourself. Simple and powerful advice. Also see Soul Mates, by Moore, listed below.

The Interpretation of Fairy Tales, Marie-Louise von Franz. Shambhala, 1996.
Jungians analyze classic fairy tales because they’re one of the simplest and purest expressions of the collective unconscious, and as such they offer rich glimpses into basic patterns of human behavior. In this book von Franz describes the steps involved in analyzing a fairy tale, and then uses these steps to discuss a variety of European tales.

Iron John, A Book About Men, Robert Bly. Addison-Wesley, 1990.
A groundbreaking work about male initiation, the role of the mentor in a man’s life, and the reality of being male as opposed to the stereotype of being male that permeates modern life. Highly recommended for both men and women.

The Maiden King, The Reunion of Masculine and Feminine, Robert Bly and Marion Woodman. Henry Holt and Company, 1998.
Woodman, a Jungian analyst, joins Bly here and together the two, male and female, examine the same story to illustrate how far removed masculine and feminine principles have become from one another in modern life and to suggest steps which could be taken to bring them back together in the future.

Man and His Symbols, Edited by Carl Jung. Doubleday Anchor Books, 1964.
An old book and a gorgeous book. The numerous illustrations from art, film, and life on every page make the role that symbols play in our psyches graphically clear. Definitely the easiest of Jung’s books to read, and an interesting book historically too, as most of his life Jung refused to write for the general public, fearing it would only lead to misunderstanding. Then he dreamed in his waning years that he should try to reach the masses and this book—a collaboration between Jung and some of his closest colleagues—was the result. Get the hardback with all the artwork. It’s a collectible item.

Memories, Dreams, Reflections, C.G. Jung, recorded and edited by Aniela Jaffe, translated by Richard and Clara Winston. Vintage Books Edition, 1989.
If there is any spark of the visionary, the artist, the impossible dreamer, or the heroic introvert in your soul, you need to read this book. Spoken aloud to Jaffe and/or hand-written in the last 4 years of his life, this is a candid glimpse into the psyche of a truly unique individual—a man who really did follow his own heart.

Men and the Water of Life, Michael Meade. HarperSanFrancisco, 1993.
This is simply a great book, in any genre. I took it on a road trip once and read passages aloud to my whole family, who were enthralled. When telling a story, Meade can get more mileage out of a metaphor than any person on earth, and when recounting his real-life experiences as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war—including prison—Meade is mesmerizing.

The Myth of Analysis, Three Essays in Archetypal Psychology, James Hillman. Northwestern University Press, 1972.
James Hillman has written a slew of books and has profoundly influenced the entire post-Jungian psychological community. He’s a courageous, original thinker. I love the hell out of him. I have a shelf full of his books. But this is the only book of his that I’m putting on this list because it’s the only one that doesn’t make me grind my teeth at some point while reading it. Hillman has terrific ideas, but he tends to take off with those ideas into the stratosphere. I recommend him for practiced, critical readers who will sift through his ideas and form their own opinions as they read.

The Portable Jung, Edited by Joseph Campbell. Penguin Books, 1971.
This is the most dog-eared, highlighted, written in, and worn out edition of Jung’s work at my house. Written by Jung, and edited by Campbell—each man a visionary and a genius.

Soul Mates, Honoring the Mysteries of Love and Relationship, Thomas Moore. HarperCollins, 1994.
Here Moore applies the idea he explored in Care of the Soul—“caring for” rather than “curing”—to how couples relate to one another. Very useful.

Women Who Run With the Wolves, Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Ballantine Books, 1992.
A terrific book. Estes is a Jungian analyst, a great story teller, and a loving heart. Her passion for life is infectious, her courage to look life right in the face inspiring. Highly recommended for both men and women.

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