Zusatztext "Marvelous . . . For a book about longevity! The Force of Character is just about perfect! not only for the wisdom of its content but also for its tone and pace." --San Francisco Chronicle "This is a book that will comfort someone afraid of getting old. Its gentle messages shine through." --Los Angeles Times "Provocative . . . Hillman breathes new life into a venerable concept! and in so doing helps us to rediscover the soulful possibilities of aging." --Publishers Weekly Informationen zum Autor A world-renowned lecturer, teacher, author, Jungian analyst, and former director of the C. G. Jung Institute, James Hillman (19262011) was born in New Jersey and spent much of his life in Europe. He is the author of more than twenty books, translated into ten languages, including The Myth of Analysis and Reinventing Psychiatry , which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1975. Klappentext The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Soul's Code presents profound and revolutionary reflections on aging and navigating life's second half. This is a book that will comfort someone afraid of getting old. Its gentle messages shine through. Los Angeles Times Marvelous . . . For a book about longevity, The Force of Character is just about perfect. San Francisco Chronicle Character requires the additional years, declares renowned lecturer James Hillman. The last years confirm and fulfill character. Far from blunting or dulling the self, the accumulation of experience concentrates the essence of our being, heightening our individual mystery and unique awareness of life. Drawing on his grounding in Jungian psychology, Hillman explores the archetypes and myths that govern the self's realignment in our final years. The Force of Character follows an enriching journey through the three stages of aging lasting , the deepening that comes with longevity; leaving , the preparation for departure; and left , the special legacy we each bestow on our survivors. Along the way, Hillman explores the meanings and often hidden virtues of characteristic physical and emotional changes, such as loss of memory, alterations in sleep patterns, and the mysterious upsurge in sensual imagination. Steeped in the wisdom of a lifetime, and radiant with Hillman's scholarship in philosophy, poetry, and sacred texts, The Force of Character is a book that is sure to changeand affirmthe lives of all who read it. Leseprobe Longevity Moving, and being himself, Slow, and unquestioned, And inordinately there, O stoic! --D. H. Lawrence, "Tortoise Family Connections" In our competitive societies, "lasting" has come to mean outlasting. "I've outlived my father and both grandfathers!" "According to my doctor, I should have been dead three years ago." "My insurance company is losing money on me. I've beat my pension plan and cashed in on Social Security, far more than I ever put in." Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, because my life has outlasted the expectancy curve. Not only have I defeated my genetic inheritance, my childhood schoolmates, and the actuaries, I've held off death itself. Life: a contest with all others and with death, so that living longer becomes a victory, repeating each year on my birthday that famous passage from St. Paul: "Death is swallowed up in victory.... O death, where is thy sting?" Our experience of aging is so embedded in numbers of years left to live, as given by longevity tables, that we can hardly believe that for centuries late years were associated not with dying but with vitality and character. The old were not mainly thought of as limping toward death's door, but were regarded as stable depositories of customs and legends, guardians of local values, exp...

quot;Marvelous . . . For a book about longevity, The Force of Character is just about perfect, not only for the wisdom of its content but also for its tone and pace."
--San Francisco Chronicle

"This is a book that will comfort someone afraid of getting old. Its gentle messages shine through."
--Los Angeles Times

"Provocative . . . Hillman breathes new life into a venerable concept, and in so doing helps us to rediscover the soulful possibilities of aging."
--Publishers Weekly

Autorentext

A world-renowned lecturer, teacher, author, Jungian analyst, and former director of the C. G. Jung Institute, James Hillman (1926–2011) was born in New Jersey and spent much of his life in Europe. He is the author of more than twenty books, translated into ten languages, including The Myth of Analysis and Reinventing Psychiatry, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1975.

Klappentext

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Soul’s Code presents profound and revolutionary reflections on aging and navigating life’s second half.

“This is a book that will comfort someone afraid of getting old. Its gentle messages shine through.”—Los Angeles Times

“Marvelous . . . For a book about longevity, The Force of Character is just about perfect.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Character requires the additional years,” declares renowned lecturer James Hillman. “The last years confirm and fulfill character.” Far from blunting or dulling the self, the accumulation of experience concentrates the essence of our being, heightening our individual mystery and unique awareness of life. Drawing on his grounding in Jungian psychology, Hillman explores the archetypes and myths that govern the self’s realignment in our final years.

The Force of Character follows an enriching journey through the three stages of aging—lasting, the deepening that comes with longevity; leaving, the preparation for departure; and left, the special legacy we each bestow on our survivors. Along the way, Hillman explores the meanings and often hidden virtues of characteristic physical and emotional changes, such as loss of memory, alterations in sleep patterns, and the mysterious upsurge in sensual imagination.

Steeped in the wisdom of a lifetime, and radiant with Hillman’s scholarship in philosophy, poetry, and sacred texts, The Force of Character is a book that is sure to change—and affirm—the lives of all who read it.

Leseprobe
Longevity Moving, and being himself, Slow, and unquestioned, And inordinately there, O stoic! --D. H. Lawrence, "Tortoise Family Connections"

In our competitive societies, "lasting" has come to mean outlasting. "I've outlived my father and both grandfathers!" "According to my doctor, I should have been dead three years ago." "My insurance company is losing money on me. I've beat my pension plan and cashed in on Social Security, far more than I ever put in." Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, because my life has outlasted the expectancy curve.

Not only have I defeated my genetic inheritance, my childhood schoolmates, and the actuaries, I've held off death itself. Life: a contest with all others and with death, so that living longer becomes a victory, repeating each year on my birthday that famous passage from St. Paul: "Death is swallowed up in victory.... O death, where is thy sting?"

Our experience of aging is so embedded in numbers of years left to live, as given by longevity tables, that we can hardly believe that for centuries late years were associated not with dying but with vitality and character. The old were not mainly thought of as limping toward death's door, but were regarded as stable depositories of customs and legends, guardians of
local values, experts in skills and crafts, and valued voices in communal council. What mattered was force of character proven by length of years. Mortality was associated with youth: stillbirth and death in infancy; battle wounds, duels, robberies, executions,…