Suicide and the soul

the long version

Thirty-five years ago this book initiated the "soul movement" in psychotherapy. By clearly and simply showing how the idea of soul works in actual practice, this book became a classic text, both for teaching the clinical art and for private meditation on the mysterious urge to die. This new edition is introduced by the eminent psychiatrist and pioneering social critic, Thomas Szasz. It concludes with a long reflective postscript by the author with his recent thoughts on the psychology of suicide for our times. Both soul and suicide are dominant issues of a new century; soul because it cannot be reduced to genes and chromosomes; suicide because it raises fundamental religious and legal conflicts. James Hillman's book continues to challenge contemporary attitudes, even as it offers answers to one of life's disturbing questions.