Preview
  • Through the Dark Wood

  • Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life
  • By: James Hollis PhD
  • Narrated by: James Hollis PhD
  • Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (534 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Through the Dark Wood

By: James Hollis PhD
Narrated by: James Hollis PhD
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $29.90

Buy for $29.90

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Have you ever looked at your career, your relationships, or your role in life and wondered, "Is this why I’m really here?” If so, then you are ready for your “midlife crisis" - the pivotal time when you have the opportunity to become the person your soul seeks to be.

"When the illusions of our youth begin to crumble," explains James Hollis, "we reach a turning point that the poet Dante called the 'dark wood.'" With Through the Dark Wood, this author and Jungian analyst reveals the steps we all must take on our road to true maturity, meaning, and fulfillment.

When the Second Half of Life Begins

How do you know when you’ve reached the “second half ”of life? According to Hollis, the first sign comes when you feel dissatisfied by where you are today—and hear a call from within to live a more purposeful life. This marks the collision between your “False Self,” created from the expectations of others, and your instinctive “True Self.”

Drawing upon his experiences with hundreds of clients, Hollis provides an essential map for traversing the universal challenges of midlife, such as building genuine relationships, cultivating a mature spirituality, and letting go of old beliefs that no longer serve you.

An Invaluable Guide through the Challenges of Midlife

"The second half of life isn’t about looking for easy answers," James Hollis says. "It’s about honestly exploring the questions that bring richness and value to your life." With Through the Dark Wood, this penetrating thinker shares a lifetime of insights about how to navigate your life’s most turbulent passages - and emerge from the darkness wiser, stronger, and in greater harmony with your soul’s purpose.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2009 James Hollis (P)2009 James Hollis
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Through the Dark Wood

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    466
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    400
  • 4 Stars
    47
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    388
  • 4 Stars
    40
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life changinf

An amazing guide towards finding “that which can support you when nothing else can”. James Hollis is truly awesome distiller of applied Jungian Therapy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the few true “elders for advice”

If you want to know what you have to do to move forward. This is your book. The caveat is that he doesn’t sugar code so this may be a bit confrontational for people who are early in their journey.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful.

A good book, of this type, not only makes important insights that i had not made for myself, but triggers my own understanding through my own connections to some of “their” expounded ideas, that I am able to expand upon and find deeper meaning, for myself. This is such a book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life changing

Do yourself a favour, Please listen to or read this text in your mid-life, so you have the opportunity to understand how to live and love with integrity and continued growth

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deserves several listens

My husband and I just reached the end of this audiobook and both agreed to listen through the whole thing again. There were so many chapters that stirred up serious reflection and personal realizations. I think it is one of those books that can be a companion throughout life's journey. I also very much enjoyed the fact that it is read by the author himself, who has an engaging voice and storytelling style.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magnificent and deep

Hollis’s narration itself adds SO SO much interpretative meaning that it makes the audio book much better than the print version.

You are transported right there via his real life stories.
There are so many nuggets here that I found myself re listening to chapters several times over multiple year periods

I Could not give this book a higher rating but it can be heavy. So one must be ready for this book and you probably need to BE in the second part of your life.

Patrick

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I recommend anything by Dr Hollis

This is more of a lecture than a book. I really enjoyed it and will listen again soon

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolute must read for every thinking human being

Very deep and relevant concepts about our lives, the meaning behind different states we are experiencing as we are maturing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing insights

An excellent resource for midlife transition and how to come to terms with yourself. Have recommended it to many friends who also have found much value in Dr. Hollis' work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exactly What I Needed

Dr. Hollis has created a deeply meaningful product here.

I'll going to have to come back and relisten to this every year for the rest of my life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful