Living an Examined Life

By: James Hollis PhD

Narrated by: Kevin M. Connolly

Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

How do you define “growing up?” Does it mean you achieve certain cultural benchmarks - a steady income, paying taxes, marriage, and children? Or does it mean leaving behind the expectations of others and growing into the person you were meant to be? With the unabridged audio of Living an Examined Life, James Hollis offers an essential guidebook for anyone at a crossroads in life. Here this acclaimed author guides you through 21 areas for self-inquiry and growth - such as how to exorcise the ghosts of your past, when to choose meaning over happiness, how to construct a mature spirituality, and how to seize permission to be who you really are.

©2018 James Hollis (P)2018 Sounds True

Extraordinary compilation of Dr. Hollis' works

Grateful for yet another of James Hollis' volumes distilling for consumption Jungian conceptions into understandable explanations and practical application. I believe I have read his entire shelf, yet never is there a trace of redundancy. Again, grateful for work of Dr. Hollis.

Must-listen if you find yourself in midlife crisis

Listening to this book is like therapy with a seasoned and intuitive therapist, only better.

I am about halfway through the book, and I have been listening to each chapter several times (at least thrice) before I move to the next one. This is because the thoughts, ideas and insights are so jam packed into the text that is narrated, that I am unable to unpack it all during the first, or even the second time I listen to it. I feel like I am chipping away at it, taking away something each time I listen to it. Each time I have finished a chapter I feel a certain peace inside, one that comes from getting a better insight into my own psyche. Long after I am done with this book, I am certain that I will be coming back to it, possibly several times in my life.

I feel lucky to have stumbled onto James Hollis work as I try to decipher this confusing juncture I find myself at, and I find myself relying more and more on his books, interviews and podcasts to help me get some clarity

Hollis does not write how-to books. His books will not offer you ready solutions that you can apply and move on, but they will do one better. They will give you insights and perspectives that will help you chart your own way forward

Creating a path for the soul

Hollis asks the questions and offers insight in service of enlarging the soul and diminishing the constricting forces of ego. I am indebted to James Hollis for facilitating the opening in me to endeavor to live consciously, encounter my shadows, and seek always to align myself with living meaningfully. Living the Examined Life reads like Hollis's collected wisdom--wisdom that finds resonance in living the big questions--and is best read slowly and pondered deeply.

great listen, but I now need the paper copy

Top shelf book for getting the right questions asked in your life and getting your own voice to be the dominant influence in your life. An amazing book on so many levels and I now must study the paperback.

Philosophy and psychology in a perfect mix

This deep and rich book is a wealth of wisdom that guide one on life’s journey. It answered lots of my questions that have followed me through life. This book is a good jumping off point for what’s next.

Absolute must read

This book will clarify the past 30 years of your life choices and explain why you are repeating them.

Nothing new

I dont understand all the 5 stars reviews.
I admit i only went through half the book. But cldnt go any further.
I was seeking and hoping to hear anything new.
No aha moments.
All is very typical talks that any1 with a mind already know.
Very dissapointed !

Polluting Jungian theories

There are traces of Jung throughout, but this is far too laced with the writer’s own moral preachings. I tried to ignore these and pluck out the good, but it got absurd. This was my first book by this author, I will not choose another.

I couldn’t follow the writer’s style

Try as hard as I have, I just can’t follow this writer’s style - in audio. I think it’s his sentence structure. Way too many clauses and qualifiers bury the core of every sentence. I love Jung’s work but I just can’t follow this author.

Narrator was awful

James Hollis is one of my favorites. I’m very dissatisfied with the narrator. I tried several times to listen and couldn’t. It was just WAY too fast. I tried sliding down to 75x but it was distorted. Waste of money

A book every person must read

This is the book every person must read in order to recognise the trancepersonal bargains we carry and to secure that he will live his own life and not the life somebody else impressed on him.

Excellent audio book

Definitely a thought provoking book on the stages of life and challenges. Would highly recommend

Truly profound.

A truly essential book. Read or listen to one short chapter per day. Each deserves thought and attention and (eventually) revisiting.

Such useful wisdom within

The content here is exceedingly wise. But hard to implement. Read this book. You will not regret it.

Confusing conceptually in parts

Interesting and captivating in many places. Though how is it than an author refers so frequently to the concept of a ‘soul’ and simultaneously expresses an opinion that there is no after-life… is his version of the soul therefore finite?

a great investment in oneself

Accessible, thought provoking.....an invitation to attend to one's inner being. I enjoyed the narration. Worth it.

brilliant

a great book . brought focus and clarity . recommended and will listen to more