Through the Dark Wood

Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life

By: James Hollis PhD

Narrated by: James Hollis PhD

Have you ever looked at your career, your relationships, or your role in life and wondered, “Is this why I’m really here?” If so, then you are ready for your “midlife crisis”—the pivotal time when you have the opportunity to become the person your soul seeks to be.
“When the illusions of our youth begin to crumble,” explains James Hollis, “we reach a turning point that the poet Dante called the ‘dark wood.’” With Through the Dark Wood, this author and Jungian analyst reveals the steps we all must take on our road to true maturity, meaning, and fulfillment.
When the Second Half of Life Begins
How do you know when you’ve reached the “second half ”of life? According to Hollis, the first sign comes when you feel dissatisfied by where you are today—and hear a call from within to live a more purposeful life. This marks the collision between your “False Self,” created from the expectations of others, and your instinctive “True Self.”
Drawing upon his experiences with hundreds of clients, Hollis provides an essential map for traversing the universal challenges of midlife, such as building genuine relationships, cultivating a mature spirituality, and letting go of old beliefs that no longer serve you.
An Invaluable Guide through the Challenges of Midlife
“The second half of life isn’t about looking for easy answers,” James Hollis says. “It’s about honestly exploring the questions that bring richness and value to your life.” With Through the Dark Wood, this penetrating thinker shares a lifetime of insights about how to navigate your life’s most turbulent passages—and emerge from the darkness wiser, stronger, and in greater harmony with your soul’s purpose.

Life changinf

An amazing guide towards finding “that which can support you when nothing else can”. James Hollis is truly awesome distiller of applied Jungian Therapy.

The Human Condition

I liked this book, firstly because the author himself read it through, which adds authenticity and a right feeling tone to his sharing and his recollections. Also, it is aimed firmly at men and women in mid-life and onwards who may need to understand and find their way ‘through the dark wood’, leading to more authentic self-knowledge and maturity. The book itself alone will not get you through this process, but on returning to it time and time again, one may find solid, grounded guidance that works when put into action.

One of the few true “elders for advice”

If you want to know what you have to do to move forward. This is your book. The caveat is that he doesn’t sugar code so this may be a bit confrontational for people who are early in their journey.

Insightful.

A good book, of this type, not only makes important insights that i had not made for myself, but triggers my own understanding through my own connections to some of “their” expounded ideas, that I am able to expand upon and find deeper meaning, for myself. This is such a book.

Life changing

Do yourself a favour, Please listen to or read this text in your mid-life, so you have the opportunity to understand how to live and love with integrity and continued growth