The Life and Ideas of James Hillman, Volume I: The Making of a Psychologist

By: Dick Russell

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

The life of the world’s foremost post-Jungian thinker and best-selling author of The Soul’s Code.

Considered to be the world’s foremost post-Jungian thinker, James Hillman is known as the founder of archetypal psychology and the author of more than 20 books, including the bestselling title The Soul’s Code. In The Making of a Psychologist, we follow Hillman from his youth in the heyday of Atlantic City, through post-war Paris and Dublin, travels in Africa and Kashmir, and onward to Zurich and the Jung Institute, which appointed him its first director of studies in 1960. This first of a two-volume authorized biography is the result of hundreds of hours of interviews with Hillman and others over a seven-year period. Discover how Hillman’s unique psychology was forged through his life experiences and found its basis in the imagination, aesthetics, a return to the Greek pantheon, and the importance of “soul-making,” and gain a better understanding of the mind of one of the most brilliant psychologists of the 20th century.

©2013 Dick Russell (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Every chapter of Hillman's life was a lesson

Where does The Life and Ideas of James Hillman rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of my all time favorites. Though I have read several of Hillman's books I had never fully appreciated the "man" Hillman was until I completed this beautifully written biography. I hated when I completed the audiobook, as it was as though Hillman was fully alive and present with me the entire time. This is a must listen to book if one is at all interested in the twists and turns of life and how these twists and turns help shape each day we live. For me Hillman was a true genius and should be required reading for anyone who wants to answer the question of "who am I".

What other book might you compare The Life and Ideas of James Hillman to and why?

I would compare this book to any GREAT biography that I have been moved by. I experience each life so individualistic that comparisons are difficult but I have read biographies of Freud, Jung, Gandhi, ML King, Meher Baba, Yogananda, T. Roosevelt, and many more and Hillman's is one of my favorites thus far.

What about Fred Sanders’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed his reading as it was neither too slow or too fast. A plesant voice with clear enunciation. I never tired of the sound of his reading.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My extreme reaction was that I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. Hillman was a truly fascinating man.

A fine biography.

A revealing and engaging look inside the life of a man who was a mentor to thousands. Looking forward to vol 2.

Really nice read

This is a really well done historical and intellectual biography of the first half of James Hillman’s life. It provides a lot of context for the development of Hillman’s thought and his influences. Importantly, it also carefully documents his meandering journey of development and certain periods of ‘false starts’, such as his efforts to write fiction as a young man in Kashmir, India, before he eventually found his true calling upon being exposed to the Jung institute in Zurich. Well paced reading. Get it!

Solid Biography; Informative

Interesting half the time and inspiring too seldom. Well-written and researched. My fantasy if and engagement with Hillman’s work wanted more…of what, I’m uncertain, noting that wanting more of a meal is high praise.

I've listened to it several times.

What did you love best about The Life and Ideas of James Hillman, Volume I: The Making of a Psychologist?

It's very insightful and well-researched about a fascinating character.

What did you like best about this story?

The last third or so - the conflicts in Zurich and the essays at Eranos

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I have listened to this book several times - it's very long. Each time I get more out of it. It's complex.