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10th out of 45 books
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20 voters
The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling
Plato and the Greeks called it "daimon," the Romans "genius," the Christians "guardian angel." Today we use the terms heart, spirit, and soul. To James Hillman, the acknowledged intellectual source for Thomas Moore's bestselling sensation Care of the Soul, it is the central and guiding force of his utterly compelling "acorn theory" in which each life is formed by a unique...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
October 1st 1997
by Grand Central Publishing
(first published 1996)
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Hillman's acorn theory, exposed in this book, is a rejuvenation of Heraclitus' dictum "ethos anthropoi daimon" (normally rendered into "Character is fate") and its later embodiments, such as Plato's myth of the daimon calling for a body to incarnate after passing through the hands of the Fates and Necessity, Plotinus' postillae and commentaries, Romans' "homo faber fortunae suae", Ficino's ideas on souls, and so on and on. The echo of the oraculus of Apollo ("know yourself") lives on and inspire...more
I read this book for a seminar at the Jung Center here in Houston. He makes his most interesting points in the first three chapters, primarily on the idea of a "calling," and how it relates to our lives and the lives of our children. I don't know if I'll have children one day or not, but I found it reassuring to read "All sorts of mothers have all sorts of offspring." I also appreciated the point he makes about "the parental fallacy" -- how there are many dimensions to what raises a child (such...more
This is the book that I love giving away to my friends because I believe everybody should read it (I gave so many and still dont have my own copy).Contary to Western culture that believe we are product of genes/family or Eastern culture that says we are pre-destined by Karma,Hillman somehow combines them into one and thinks we are born with certain purpose and will achieve what we are meant to do in life one way or another - every individual holds a potential inside himself just like acorn holds...more
I was going to contact Dr. James Hillman and thank him for his wonderful book, and found that he died this past summer. I wish I would have read this book 20 years ago. It echoes many sentiments I have felt about my psychotherapy clients, the ones who were labeled "crazy" when they were simply following their soul's calling. Hillman draws on Jungian archetypal therapy to explain what he calls the acorn theory. We all have an acorn that demands to become an oak, regardless of convention. When tha...more
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I give this sloppily written book two stars instead of one because I think Hillman's central idea is important. Many a physician and pharmacist would be wise to at least entertain this notion that there is more life than our luck-of-the-draw genes and environment. Perhaps we are who we are for some kind of reason, and we might even have souls or callings or daimons. Unfortunately, reading Hillman's book won't make said healthcare professionals perceive these ideas as any less wishy-washy. He ove...more
A strange book with a very interesting theory: there is something that drives personal development besides nature or nurture. This third thing is the daimon or the soul that enters our bodies at birth with a particular calling tightly bound up in an acorn of potential. Hillman explicitly states that the acorn/daimon is a metaphor, and yet his argument suggests a more concrete reading of the daimon's existence. I initially thought the whole proposal was insane until I started to apply his psychol...more
A friend of ours...
dear Unique Individuals,
... was taking a psychology class at Sonoma State University in which one of Hillman's books was required reading. When the day for discussion of the book arrived one of the students jumped up, ripped pages from his book, threw the book to the floor and stomped on it in frustration, hysterically crying out, "No one should be allowed to write like this". Needless to say, that made us somewhat hesitant when we began reading this book, however, what we fou...more
dear Unique Individuals,
... was taking a psychology class at Sonoma State University in which one of Hillman's books was required reading. When the day for discussion of the book arrived one of the students jumped up, ripped pages from his book, threw the book to the floor and stomped on it in frustration, hysterically crying out, "No one should be allowed to write like this". Needless to say, that made us somewhat hesitant when we began reading this book, however, what we fou...more
I'll go back and finish this book later -- very interesting ideas. I was vaguely familiar with Hillman, a Jungian psychologist, as the "intellectual inspiration" for Thomas Moore's Care of the Soul books that I read 15 years ago. I appreciate Hillman's central idea that we have a soul separate from the brain that comes to the body with its own needs and calling. I like the theory that we are more than nature and nurture; all is not dependent on genes and parents. Sometimes Hillman belabored the...more
Feb 29, 2008
Christopher
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
psychology
The Soul's Code is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Using Plato's Myth of Er as a backdrop, Hillman skillfully applies Platonic reasoning to the problem of purpose and destiny. Rather than approaching destiny as a secondary concern of the human pursuit, Hillman elevates it to a place of unequaled parallel.
Hillman's ideas are personified in what he calls the acorn theory. The basic tenet of this theory "…holds that each person bears a uniqueness that asks to be lived and that is a...more
Hillman's ideas are personified in what he calls the acorn theory. The basic tenet of this theory "…holds that each person bears a uniqueness that asks to be lived and that is a...more
Hillman is a noted archetypal psychologist, so this book diverts to archetypes and metaphors. The value of this book lies in the metaphor of the acorn becoming a mighty oak or withering in the ground before it has a chance to reach it's potential. Parents should read this book while their child is a toddler. Hillman believes that we are born with the essence of our character and calling and that many parents manage to suffocate the innate character by the time the child starts kindergarten.
This must be the third or fourth time I've read this book - and I heard him deliver it in seminar - and still it is fresh and interesting. Hillman's writing is wonderful - complex and sometimes beautiful - and his ideas dig deep to the roots and can flip a whole societal worldview upside down. His approach to life is so open to nuance and attentive to detail - attentive and delighting. Platonist polytheistic democracy is what he proposes here: the eachness of each of us is a seed pushing to grow...more
I have not found James Hillman to be always accessible in his writing; however, this book is an engaging and fascinating read. Hillman sets out successfully to establish that the character and passions of many people seem to spring form an inner source that is their in early childhood. He cites Judy Garland who showed her interest in being on stage when just beyond toddler stage; Yehudi Menuhin similarly displayed an interest in music when he was just a few years old.
Interesting concept, but I could barely start the book, let alone try to finish it. The style and content was completely ethereal. I mean that in several connotations. First, the book is so spiritual/philosophical in nature that it loses all possibility of practical application. Secondly, there seems to be no real substance. Lots of words, but little content. Nothing to indicate how to use this theory or any suggestions on how to be proactive in one's life.
One of the biggest dissapointments for me. Maybe other books of Hillman are really strong and innovative or helpful in some way but that's the only book from Hillman that I've read and I just cannot understand how this guy can be called one of the most original psychologists of XX-th century. Though my judgment on Hillman is based solely on this book and it might still be wrong.
This book is superficial with lots of oversimplifications...
This book is superficial with lots of oversimplifications...
James Hillman is very wise, and a good writer. Here he talks about our unique diamon before birth or our soul's path or the acorn theory. After reading it I passed it on to my friend who has a child. I thought is is good instruction for parents. There many stories in this book of how people came to be who they are. The signs are there early if we are open to listening and observing. This book feeds my soul.
I had this book sitting in wait for years after randomly picking it up at Strand because it was Hillman, and because it was on sale. A great, if not precise, if not imaginative, if not essential, guide to those devoted to the "art of living". I should have read it years ago, but turns out the timing for me was good. One must imagine and live one's life with a mind to Eros, always....
I've tried valiantly to get into this book, but just haven't. I don't know if I ever will. Fascinated as I am about psychology, I can't help but want Hillman to get to the point already. His thesis about a daimon guiding our lives and leading us to our best destiny works well in hindsight and for explaining the lives of famous people (Josephine Baker, Judy Garland, Henry Ford) but as far as I've read, Hillman gives little insight into how lesser mortals can listen better to their own daimon and...more
Excellent book on the tracks of the Ancients>as Herakleitos @EPHE HOS ETHOS ANTHROPOI DAOMON@ till Plato and his myth ...including modern triangle Fraud, Jung and Adler.
Everybody is born to be reborn with his own destiny, own aim on this world and lot of choices but only one possible prescribed in soul code.
Everybody is born to be reborn with his own destiny, own aim on this world and lot of choices but only one possible prescribed in soul code.
This book changed my perspective on calling and how it manifests in early childhood sometimes as dysfunctions we like to "cure". The Acorn Theory helped me shed notions on what "I" should be but instead search for that within me. I highly recommend it to those who are seekers.
Was recommended this title when B was little--was told it would help me in parenting. It is also most helpful for anyone who wants to figure out what to do with the rest of his/her life, why he/she was in a particular relationship, why why why. Easy to read, lots of examples.
Apr 11, 2013
Lita
added it
You don't really have to read the whole thing to get the marvelous point: that we can thank our parents, life, & everything for "fucking us up" rather than blaming, wallowing in victimhood, and ceasing to appreciate how our challenges can seed our greatest blessings.
A somewhat repetitive book with a somewhat debatable theme; I read this book for the author's insights into what the Greeks called the "daimon" and the Romans the "genius." The scholarly material was all too scarce, however.
leggendolo non potrete fare a meno di domandarvi quale è lo scopo o il destino della vostra vita. Poi c'è anche una teoria a riguardo che non condivido ma la domanda resta e credo che questo basti.
I don't agree with everything he says, but I was fascinated by the idea of the current you and the eternal you. Give ya hope, if current you is kind of a nerdhole.
This is one of those books that caused some directional change in my life. It's a look at the soul for a point of view that I had not previously considered
Look into different thoughts on creation. Beliefs on life beginnings and eternal
involvement. I learned that God is still the answer for happiness & truth
involvement. I learned that God is still the answer for happiness & truth
Hillmans' cogent prose provide much insight for those interested in knowing more about what it's like to be human from a Jungian perspective.
A very deep read, but an incredibly good book. Some chapters I found phenomenal and life changing, while others just were
n't for me at this time
n't for me at this time
some parts I loved, some parts I didn't get...I think Thomas Moore is a friend/colleague of Hillman is more coherent and lovely to read :)
As I read this book, I felt that the author/psychologist offered his view(s) and/or commentary on how he perceived "the soul" to play pivotally into not only the persons we are to ultimately become; but also how it's purpose upon the evolution throughout our lives. Additionally, his concepts about the placing or role that "the soul" portrays in the life of a person, and how it interacts or influences the shaping of behavior, decision-making, and unltimately resulting in the major summations of a...more
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James Hillman was an American psychologist. He served in the US Navy Hospital Corps from 1944 to 1946, after which he attended the Sorbonne in Paris, studying English Literature, and Trinity College, Dublin, graduating with a degree in mental and moral science in 1950.
In 1959, he received his PhD from the University of Zurich, as well as his analyst's diploma from the C.G. Jung Institute and foun...more
More about James Hillman...
In 1959, he received his PhD from the University of Zurich, as well as his analyst's diploma from the C.G. Jung Institute and foun...more
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“...you find your genius by looking in the mirror of your life. Your visible image shows your inner truth, so when you're estimating others, what you see is what you get. It therefore becomes critically important to see generously, or you will get only what you see; to see sharply, so that you discern the mix of traits rather than a generalized lump; and to see deeply into dark shadows, or else you will be deceived.”
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