Uncovering the Reasons Behind Unethical Behavior: Exploring Our Darker Side

markskinner: The book was in perfect condition and arrived in very good time.

United Kingdom on Sep 29, 2023

Steven N. Silver: The author gives names to invisible and unproven energies, concepts and forms, and then attempts to make these real primarily through case histories and literature. He explains how and why to make the shadow conscious, who we are but don't want to be, such as deceitful, manipulative, our capacity for evil as individuals, barbaric as societies. He examines our divided selves, id, ego and superego. God and devil. Our unconscious, our conscious (the ego) verse our shadow side, the latter involving both good and not so good personality traits, feelings and thoughts. We are complex, both damaged and hurtful to others, much like some who are religious feel damaged by original sin. And so, we must then turn inward, to self, therapist or god for healing. Hollis' focus is the last half of life, when we are more fully developed.
The ego is our conscious self, what we are aware of, the mask, the chameleon, the propaganda we display to feel comfortable within ourselves, and to get what we want from others. With the ego in apparent control, we may be overpolite, deferential, and inauthentic. The ego is thin, fragile, but it provides an illusion of safety and control. And so, we protect it...

United States on Apr 07, 2023

Dora Iren Bus: Quick delivery, very happy with my purchase! :)

Italy on Feb 28, 2022

Sonee Singh: Explores the shadow and how it expresses in each of us individually, as well as in all of us collectively. It was interesting but too general until the last chapter. There, we were finally able to get an opportunity for practical application as it posed questions or for reflection.

United States on Jan 12, 2022

Alexandre T: O autor tem um conhecimento muito aprofundado em psicologia. Na minha opinião, a linguagem do texto é um pouco exagerada e difícil, tornando a leitura cansativa, mas o conteúdo em si compensa. A crítica menos positiva que faço é que o autor comenta assuntos religiosos, o que não é problema, mas ele o faz de forma muito superficial, o que contrasta com o restante da leitura.

Brazil on May 28, 2020

FCO: I've finished this and am now going back to the beginning to start again. Hollis is a wise, learned, articulate elder and this book provides the light to see by, as we do the necessary 'shadow' work that helps grow us into mature souls. Highly recommended.

United Kingdom on Jul 27, 2019

onlyhuman: I have by now read a number of Hollis' books. Hollis is a clear and accessible writer who maintains good focus on the subject of his works. This particular book addresses a long term interest of mine which is well defined in the title. As a Jungian therapist, Hollis uses Jungian theory and terminology to answer the question. His exploration of the topic is thorough and his conclusions transparent. Hollis is also incredibly well read and knowledgeable, he brings into his work, insights from other writers who have had something to say about the subject throughout the ages. Whether reading for professional or personal reasons, a Hollis book will enrich your life, and this particular work will probably also answer a lot of questions about why people do bad things, and possibly even change your judgment on those people.

United Kingdom on Jan 12, 2014

Robert Sheeler: James Hollis, the Swiss Trained Jungian Psychologist is clearly one of the profound Jugian thinkers and writers of our time. His works provide great overview, clear insight and complex understanding of human nature. This book, although slapped in the face by the lack of judgement of a publisher who wanted a catchy title, provides the same level of insight that many of his other works do on various facets of human development. His master work on relationships The Eden Project and his Audio CD set Through A Dark Wood provide illuminated and transformative levels of information on human psychological and interpersonal development. This book even goes on to describe shadow energies at the institutional level. Hollis makes a superb case in his book through examples and overall structure that we can have no better relationship with others than we have with ourselves. He then goes on to offer tools and skills that can help a person to do the depth work to make such progess.

It is truly a shame that the book was titled to attract such a superficial audience. A title designed to attrach those interested in depth understanding of the human psyche would have resulted in a...

United States on Sep 14, 2010

Tim Lukeman: The title might lead a casual reader to dismiss this as just one more lightweight self-help book -- but that's not the case, not in the least! As with Hollis' earlier books, it's a psychologically & philosophically rich examination of the human soul, offering no easy answers, no magic solutions, no simplistic aphorisms in place of real insight. If you truly want to understand your life & its choices, then you have to be willing to do some difficult & often painful emotional work. And that's something few of us are eager to do.

Which leads us to the question: do you want to grow, to become more fully conscious, to strive towards wholeness? If so, you'll have to discard protective illusions, stop expecting someone else to solve everything for you, and apply an almost ruthless honesty to yourself. You won't like a lot of what you see in that dark mirror, and you'll try to fend it off, explain it away ... but that's our mistake. If we can acknowledge the part we unconsciously play in our own suffering, we may well learn how to alleviate some of it & live with what remains.

Mind you, Hollis never promises an end to suffering, a wondrous makeover that does...

United States on Feb 24, 2007