Table of Contents

Chapter One: War Is Normal

Chapter Two: War Is Inhuman

Chapter Three: War Is Sublime

Chapter Four: Religion Is War

Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

About the Author

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.

Reviews

"Important reading for our time, as we try to make sense of our terrors." —San Francisco Chronicle"[Hillman’s] portrayal of war as an implacable force, a primary element of the human condition, is unsettling." —Publishers Weekly

"Important reading for our time, as we try to make sense of our terrors." -San Francisco Chronicle"[Hillman's] portrayal of war as an implacable force, a primary element of the human condition, is unsettling." -Publishers Weekly

In his latest offering, prolific psychologist, lecturer, teacher, and author Hillman (The Soul's Code) focuses his archetypal psychological lens on the topic of war, specifically "the myths, philosophy, and theology of war's deepest mind." The text, which is laced with classical references ranging from the Greek gods to Western philosophy and literature, delves into the meaning of war beyond its political or societal framework, challenging the reader to confront the psyche of war. Chapters explore war as a sublime mixture of loathing and loving, showing how it is grounded in the same beliefs that govern religious devotion and seeing it as inherently inhuman "since war's autonomy generates its own momentum." "Excursions" of personal or historical significance act as tangents from the main text. For example, Hillman's discussion of our fascination with weapons and the "profound psychological resistance to disarmament" veers off into a story of effective gun control in Japan (1543-1879). Soundly argued but not very concise or well structured, this book is too demanding for lay readers and undergraduates and will appeal to graduate students and faculty; recommended for academic collections. Heather O'Brien, Acadia Univ. Lib., Wolfville, N.S. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.