Man and His Symbols

By: Carl G. Jung

Narrated by: Raj Ghatak

Man and His Symbols owes its existence to one of Jung's own dreams. The great psychologist dreamed that his work was understood by a wide public, rather than just by psychiatrists, and therefore he agreed to write and edit this fascinating book. Here, Jung examines the full world of the unconscious, whose language he believed to be the symbols constantly revealed in dreams. Convinced that dreams offer practical advice, sent from the unconscious to the conscious self, Jung felt that self-understanding would lead to a full and productive life. Thus, the listener will gain new insights into himself from this thoughtful volume, which also illustrates symbols throughout history. Completed just before his death by Jung and his associates, it is clearly addressed to the general listener.

Praise for Man and His Symbols:

“This book, which was the last piece of work undertaken by Jung before his death in 1961, provides a unique opportunity to assess his contribution to the life and thought of our time, for it was also his first attempt to present his life-work in psychology to a non-technical public.... What emerges with great clarity from the book is that Jung has done immense service both to psychology as a science and to our general understanding of man in society, by insisting that imaginative life must be taken seriously in its own right, as the most distinctive characteristic of human beings.” (Guardian)

“Straightforward to read and rich in suggestion.” (John Barkham, Saturday Review Syndicate)

“This book will be a resounding success for those who read it.” (Galveston News-Tribune)

“A magnificent achievement.” (Main Currents)

“Factual and revealing.” (Atlanta Times)

©1964 Estate of C. G. Jung (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This book, which was the last piece of work undertaken by Jung before his death in 1961, provides a unique opportunity to assess his contribution to the life and thought of our time, for it was also his firsat attempt to present his life-work in psychology to a non-technical public.... What emerges with great clarity from the book is that Jung has done immense service both to psychology as a science and to our general understanding of man in society, by insisting that imaginative life must be taken seriously in its own right, as the most distinctive characteristic of human beings.” (Guardian)

“Straighforward to read and rich in suggestion.” (John Barkham, Saturday Review Syndicate)

“This book will be a resounding success for those who read it.” (Galveston News-Tribune)

best inteo to Jung

While Jungs work can be complex I think this book does a great job laying it all out for the layman.

The book is divided into five parts:

Man and His Symbols is a classic work of Jungian psychology, and it is still widely read and studied today. The book is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about the unconscious mind, the archetypes, and the role of symbols in human life.

Greatest philosophical book I have ever read

What a shame that academia is so absent of spiritual power. Instead they rely on statistical power, as M. L. Franz pointed out in the conclusion of this great book, refusing to go beyond what has been known to our feeble minds...

Complex ideas simplified format.

Complex ideas presented in a simplified understandable format. Carl Jung is one of the most difficult scientists to understand and is famously unwilling to compromise on the complexity of his ideas. For these reasons and more he is difficult to understand.
The purpose if this book is to make Jung's ideas more approachable for the every day reader.

Eye opening wisdom

This is Jung and his people from a humble angle. The effect of symbols is definitely well laid out.

in depth but explanatory

understandable explanation of complicated themes. fascinating and thought provoking expose of symbols in jungian psychology

Unconscious Symbolism

This is a collection of work between Jung and his four closest and most capable associates. I expected this to be more about symbolism in the physical and conscious world, e.g. symbols of structures or edifices, pictorial symbols and their meanings as they pertain to cultures, and symbols associated with groups or movements of people. This work is, instead, about the unconscious with a heavy emphasis on dream and the interpretive assessments of those dreams and how they apply to the varying degrees of psychology in man. I stuck with the book because I did find some use for what it was seeking to teach.

The narration was average, but not in the pejorative sense. Pronunciation of some words tripped me up, but all is well. I will say that Jung’s associates understood the assignment of making his work more accessible to the general reader. It seems as though he struggled to accomplish this as his chapter in the work required a significant level of thought on my part to understand. It should also be noted that this is my first introduction to reading anything by Jung.

Masterpiece of Psychiatry

This book (and it’s audiobook format) plumbs the depths of the Psyche. I’ve always loved abstract modern art but had trouble expressing it. The chapter on Art was illuminating as it brought to light things I couldn’t express.

A great listen for dreamers.

If you are a fan of Jung's work, this is a must read. the other authors included added a lot to the overall material. very well done!

The connection of consciousness

It definitely a great listen, if you looking to see why human see symbols in certain way, and you like books on psychology then this book is worth it