Jung: A Biography

I have consulted all the biographies of Carl Jung available in Spanish, and some of the existing in English, and this one is undoubtedly the best. I think it deserves 5 stars..................................(Spanish):Desde fines del siglo XIX el psicoanálisis ha venido a enriquecer el acervo de la psicología y de la psiquiatría con una serie de intuiciones geniales, en particular las referentes a los mecanismos de defensa del "yo". No obstante, su pretendido descubrimiento de las estructuras de la personalidad ha derivado en la creación de las más dispares teorías, útiles tan sólo en cuanto construcciones de modelos operacionales aptos para dibujar la intangible versatilidad psíquica, pero muy discutibles como inamovibles "verdades" científicas. Entre esos modelos especulativos el psicoanálisis freudiano ha resultado fructífero para operar sobre las neurosis en sociedades occidentales sexualmente reprimidas y existencialmente desorientadas como pudo serlo la multicultural Viena del imperio austríaco. El modelo junguiano de la psicología analítica, mucho más esotérico y simbólico, resulta en cambio más apto para operar sobre estructuras sociales predominantemente introspectivas y místicas, o para complementar ciencias como la antropología, la filología, y la historia de las culturas. A estos dos primigenios modelos -el freudiano y el junguiano- se fueron agregando otros en apreciable variedad, llegando hasta los modernos conductivo-conductuales que predominan actualmente en los ambientes más estrechamente ligados a la psiquiatría convencional. Lamentablemente, durante varias décadas aquellas dos escuelas psicoanalíticas primordiales sostuvieron una encarnizada batalla por el predominio ideológico. Batalla académica sembrada de golpes bajos, particularmente asestados por la "ortodoxia" freudiana a sus contrincantes junguianos. Enfrentamiento que, observado con el escepticismo de la distancia, encuentra su principal explicación en una cuestión absolutamente pedestre: la competencia por un mismo "mercado" psicoanalizable. Mercado que ha sido particularmente importante en los EE.UU. -el país más rico del mundo, lo que lo vuelve explicable-, y, paradojalmente también en el Río de la Plata, al sur de las Américas, donde la densidad de psicoanalistas en relación con la población de clases media y alta resulta inusitada y asombrosamente elevada.Es precisamente aquí, en el alejado Río de la Plata, donde se hace sentir más la carencia de aportes biográficos serios y completos sobre la figura de Carl Jung, y donde el gastado y nada fundamentado remoquete de filonazismo sirve estereotipadamente para denostar su figura y sus aporte a las ciencias humanísticas. El libro de Deirdre Bair, a mi juicio, es muy esclarecedor sobre estos remanidos aspectos controversiales, y seguramente conocerá pronto una versión española que -espero- resulte fidedigna y adecuada en su traducción. Junto con la ya hace tiempo existente biografía debida a Gerhard Wehr, esta nueva biografía de Jung constituirá una buena base de referencia sobre la figura del maestro de Bollingen, volviendo las cosas a su verdadera dimensión, y recolocando su figura en el contexto de la historia científica, y no de la controversia ideológica donde se lo quiso colocar equívocamente.

This was a major project undertaken by an outstanding biographer but in the end, the reader is left with more questions than answers. I would recommend this to anyone just wanting to know the who-what-where and why of Jung's life, but for a better understanding of Jung as a man and especially of his thought I would also look to Barbara Hannah's personal memoir as well as Laurens van der Post's. Jung was an extraordinary man with many strengths, many flaws (self acknowledged), and profound insights which are ever more necessary in these dark days. One could do worse than to start here on one's exploration of Jungian thought, but then move on to those who knew him best and, of course, to his own autobiography (Memories, Dreams and Reflections) as well as his massive output of writings (as well as the writings of his closest students.)

C.G. Jung spoke about his number one and number two personalites, one corresponding to his physical/outer life experiences and the other to his psychological/inner life experiences. Like some of the editorial reviews above, I found Bair's biography to be sorely lacking in coverage and understanding of this second and most important aspect of Jung's life and work. The following quote he used in Memories, Dreams, Reflections to describe someone else could just as easily be applied in this case:"Without the psyche there would be neither knowledge nor insight. Yet nothing was ever said about the psyche. Everywhere it was tacitly taken for granted, and even when someone mentioned it...there was no real knowledge of it but only philosophical speculation which might just as easily take one turn as another. I could make neither head nor tail of this curious observation" (MDR,98).Look up "psyche" in the index of Bair's biography and you'll make the following unbelievable discovery: it's not there. She has written a biography on psychology and somehow left out the psyche, its most essential aspect.After reading Bair, I picked up Sonu Shamdasani's "Jung Stripped Bare By His Biographers, Even." Rather than containing a heavy dose of vitriol, it is a very level-headed overview of biographical writing in general as well as of many of the bios on Jung up to the current one under discussion. Shamdasani proceeds to attack this latest biography from his carefully laid foundations. Highly erudite and equally highly readable.In the case that you do decide to read Bair's book, I would label Shamdasani's book a "must-read" as well. Some tout Bair's as an effective means of counteracting the transference that so often surrounds Jung, making him out to be a god, but in so doing she leaves out half the picture of the man--arguably the most important half. On top of this, Shamdasani raises some serious questions about Bair's treatment of and scholarship contained within her many pages on that which Jung himself claimed to be his less important half.

For adherents of C.G. Jung, this is a painful read. Yet not to know this content is to be woefully uninformed about a person whose psychology has made such a huge impact in the world. Here we encounter Jung's true surroundings, his friends, his family, his colleagues, his trials, how he was regarded in Zurich, England, America and Germany/Austria, his interpersonal problems--not just with Freud but with other very important people in his life. Bair has done a tour de force amount of research. She makes no statements that are not corroborated by a serious footnote. There is a reason why she was trusted by the Jung family. She is fair, careful, objective and never leads the reader.

I have been a fan of Jungian thought for several decades, having had the benefit of therapy with a Jungian therapist... and then I read this book. It is hard to be a fan for Jung after reading this detailed account of his life and it does seem to raise serious questions about Jungian thought. I suppose transference has been at work here - we have been projecting what works for us onto Jung, giving him credit. Maybe deservedly, maybe not.

The book described as 'good' was found to be 'bad'. The same effect could have been achieved by standing the book upright and giving it a hefty blow with a moderate sized hammer. Since the wrappings were torn I concede that it MAY have passed through the well-known careful handling of Royal Mail to get into this condition. However since what mostly matters is that the text should be readable, I overlook this.

Jung is a challenging subject to write about - an individual that splits public and professional opinion and no shortage of acolytes or assassins wanting to whet their own particular angles, plus ongoing and fierce protection of many of his notebooks/archives etc by his family. I've read several other biographies, including Jung's Memories, Dreams, Recollections and found this work immensely engaging and thorough. I felt I was presented with a vivd picture of Jung with good explanations of the origins and development of his key ideas, the challenges he encountered (or created) with his professional peers and his personal life. It's not always an attractive picture that emerges, but it does seem fair and balanced. I'd say this is probably the one book you should read if you have a thirst for knowledge about the man (i'd recommend Anthony Stevens "On Jung" if it's his professional theories that interest you)

Poor quality paper therefore not a pleasant book to touch or look at.... Content great so far.

An excellent biography, very accurately documented, yet enjoyable to read - great! A rare reading enjoyment, an opus written with expertise and great style