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The Origins and History of Consciousness cover art

The Origins and History of Consciousness

Written by: Erich Neumann, R. F. C. Hull - translator, Carl Jung - foreword
Narrated by: William Roberts
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Publisher's Summary

This audiobook, narrated by William Roberts, explores the evolution of consciousness through the archetypes and myths that are universal to all humanity.

The Origins and History of Consciousness draws on a full range of world mythology to show how individual consciousness undergoes the same archetypal stages of development as human consciousness as a whole. Erich Neumann was one of C. G. Jung's most creative students and a renowned practitioner of analytical psychology in his own right. In this influential book, Neumann shows how the stages begin and end with the symbol of the Uroboros, the tail-eating serpent. The intermediate stages are projected in the universal myths of the World Creation, Great Mother, Separation of the World Parents, Birth of the Hero, Slaying of the Dragon, Rescue of the Captive, and Transformation and Deification of the Hero. Throughout the sequence, the Hero is the evolving ego consciousness.

Featuring a foreword by Jung, this Princeton Classics edition introduces a new generation of listeners to this eloquent and enduring work.

©1949 Erich Neumann (P)2020 Princeton University Press

What the critics say

"No better exposition has come to us of the two Jungian themes: the evolution of consciousness in the history of mankind and the development of personality in the individual." (The Personalist)

"A welcome source of information for all those who are touched by the relationship between man and his myths." (The New York Times)

"There can be no doubt that [Neumann] has brought to his task a remarkable...knowledge of classical mythology, some considerable acquaintance with the comparative study of religion, and a deep understanding of those psychological views and theories evolved by C. G. Jung." (The Times Literary Supplement)

What listeners say about The Origins and History of Consciousness

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Not an easy read

Came to this book after J. B. Peterson's recommendation in one of his talks. Not being a psychologist, I struggled through the beginning with the massive mythological references and arguments. You also need some basic understanding of Jungian concepts, otherwise I would have been completely lost. Maybe I will come back to this book in the future once I have a better grasp of the concepts. For a very technical book, the narrator did a great performance.

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phenomenal experience ✨️ learning to see beyond !!

The book opened the letter the radically inept are keen figures that disrupt and negate growth.

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Very poor choice of reader.

The reading style of William Roberts in the context of thos book was so obnoxious that it made the content almost unintelligible. A very poor paring.

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A great insight

Came back to read this after dipping my toes into other psychological and mythology analysis. And blown away by the insight obtained to help with the others. Thanks.

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