The Book of Symbols. Reflections on Archetypal Images
Category: Books,Medical Books,Psychology
The Book of Symbols. Reflections on Archetypal Images Details
Review "It is still possible, even now, for publishers to do something we have never seen before. The Book of Symbols is a project of mind-blowing ambition and reach, and a book with an almost old-fashioned educational appeal. Bright, optimistic, bountiful and brainy, it makes you reel with a sense of wonder at the complexity of the human mind and soul… You can’t ask for more than that." Read more About the Author Drawing upon Carl Gustav Jung's work on the archetype and the collective unconscious, the Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS) is a pictorial and written archive of mythological, ritualistic, and symbolic images from all over the world and from all epochs of human experience. The collection of 17,000 photographic images, accompanied by commentary on their cultural and historical context, probes the universality of archetypal themes and provides a testament to the deep and abiding connections of all life. Read more
Reviews
As a student of art, I had hoped this book would help me understand the symbolism found in art. However, I'm disappointed. Most of the symbols in the book are practical, everyday things and can only be applied in the most general context. While there are many symbols in the book, the descriptions are common sense based on practical knowledge that most of us already know. Masonic symbols, or those on the dollar bill (seeing eye), are not in the book. Much of the text is a description of the item. For example, do we really need 1/2 a page to describe the scientific cause of lightning? Also, the writing style is difficult to read and boring. I felt like each description was written by a college student trying to impress his/her professor.I think there are better books on symbolism available.
