She: Understanding Feminine Psychology

My best friend let me borrow this book; the journey has been without parallel. The book is small, and for the most part, extremely easy to read. But like slow moving river, extremely deep. Though the book's audience appears to be targeted towards the feminine, that does not necessarily mean just woman. It inspires reflection, understanding, and compassion towards ourselves as well as those around us. This is a book to read and re-read.

"It is very easy to relegate mythology to a far away place long ago and thus isolate it from the mainstream of here-and-now life." So says Robert A. Johnson in the final chapter of SHE. This short, easy to read book, like Psyche's lamp, sheds light on the inner life of women, as well as the feminine within the male psyche. I've been aware of the Myth of Psyche for many years and have read several books mentioning it. However, I felt the authors often got lost in intellectual jargon or digressive personal experiences, so the meaning of the myth always eluded me. While I had a general idea of its importance, its deeper meanings always remained just out of reach. Johnson systematically takes each stage of the myth apart and shows the reader how it applies to the psyche, and there were many revelations for me in this book. For those who have read SHE and come away unenlightened or confused, I would suggest that perhaps this is not the fault of either author or reader. It does help to have at least a little knowledge of Jungian thought (although Johnson's book could serve as an intriguing introduction to Jungian psychology). I would say that if you're interested in the topic, keep reading about it. Keep building on your knowledge. Over time, your mind will sort out the information--just as the ants help Psyche to sort out the seeds--and you'll come to your own epiphany about the Myth of Psyche, just like I did when I read Johnson's book. I wish readers well in their search.

This is a short, easy read (about 80 pages) of large-typed, generously-spaced, amply-margined words. Johnson's style is light and casual. Whilst not as in-depth as Marie-Louise Von Franz' treatments, for example, it is also much more approachable and less academically inclined. Still, it provides a concise forray into Jungian thought as related to færy tales and myth. Whilst the readers of Von Franz might find it too light, I suggest it simply adds to the analytical repertoire. If you enjoy Clarissa Pinkola Estes' work relative to færy tales, you should also enjoy this, too.

A great presentation of the myth of Psyche and her trials, and integrating that knowledge with his own Jungian analysis. Tells the story well and simple, explaining what the trials in the story of Psyche are telling modern day women and men. The feminine aspects of the human have been trapped somewhere from Ancient Greece to about 1960, and is now slowly revealing itself. Johnson may have a good start and understanding of this knowledge for those who are looking for more of a balance in their lives.

Robert A. Johnson writes clearly and beautifully. In "She" he succeeds in gracefully and crisply conveying to the reader mythologies and archetypes that existed ages ago, live now, and that will probably exist in 500 years. His text flows as though he is with you, simply speaking to you. He kindly connects elements of the myths and the stories of Psyche, Aphrodite, Eros, Zeus, and others into a cohesive whole and through analogy, provides a connectivity of these stories to our modern day life - helping readers that may have a moment of unsureness in understanding the concepts the myths reveal.That such simply written words so succinctly convey many of the fundamental concepts of life, of people, and of a woman is wonderful. And that the mythological content is so true in a timeless and universally applicable sense, is more than illuminating. She - is not a long book, but it may speak volumes to those who take a moment to read and absorb the truths it offers.I recommend it highly.Regards,Psych