Creating a Life

Finding Your Individual Path

By: James Hollis

Narrated by: Steve Owens

Creating a Life is a powerful commentary on the importance of the examined life, illustrating how we may arrive at an understanding of our life choices and relationships by exploring our core complexes and personal history. With insight and compassion grounded in the humanist side of analytical psychology, Hollis elucidates the circuitous way of individuation. The text is deeply enriched by the inclusion of poems and excerpts from the works of many modern writers (including John Fowles, Rilke, D.H Lawrence, Thoreau, Pascal and Kierkegaard).

©2001 James Hollis (P)2024 James Hollis

Another excellent addition

The narrator is terrible even for someone quite tolerant like myself ( who at most times don't get what other people are complaining about). However THERE IS A SOLUTION. Increase the speed to x1.05 and you will get rid of nigh all his strange uncalled for, affectatious drawls aaaaaaannnnndddd it'd brighten up his voice and make it sound way more natural.

Now on to the book itself. James Hollis's books are largely repetitive within itself and in relation to all his others works. But that is not a bad thing. In fact, he is probably the only author whose formula in both thematic concerns and writing style does not get old. He can go on repeating himself with the same themes and same quotes and I will probably go on purchasing all his books because each time it takes me to a place I didn't previously know about myself.

Fellows, don't let the narrator stop you from getting it. It is wonderful little book that strikes deep and strikes home.

Poor performance, great book

Performance makes it difficult to follow along. The ideas themselves are great and the book is well written. Terrible performance.

thoughtful. provocative.

highly recommended for those who are concerned with what it means to live life fully beyond the rhetoric of ambition and self-esteem. For also those who are critical of “positive thinking.”

Wonderful Book; Absolutely Horrendous Narration

The content is classic Hollis. I heard the balance between analysis and compassion, and an unattached kindness necessary for clarity. I appreciate the repetition of his messages. He expands and amplifies each repeated messages in different patterns, so his points seem fresh.

The narration - oh my word! - sounded like the "but wait, there's more" guy of infomercials back in the 80s or 90s. I could almost expect the narrator to bust out, "aaaaaaaaand for just $14.99, you'll get an extra pair of handy-dandy magic compression socks," urging me to dial some 1-800 number in the next 2 minutes.

A helpful reviewer here (Yixiao, I think?) recommended speeding the recording up just a touch to blunt the edge. It helped a little, and every little bit helps.

good with political messaging thrown in

This book is generally good; interesting observations are offered. Written by Hollis, the prose is often turgid and professorial. Another trademark of many books by Hollis is the intermittent political soundbytes where he advertises he is a Left-wing kook.
I mean, he typically berates and bemoans "totalitarians" arriving to oppress us...and it's always his bugaboo of right-winger he finger-points. Yet speech-codes, cancel culture, more expensive everyday items or services due to yet another "green" provision are the Left's.