This is an indispensable book for anyone beginning their studies in Jungian psychology. At 140 pages in length, the text is an easy read with no wasted words and no convoluted passages to unravel. It addresses Jung's entire system and provides succinct, memorable summaries of each concept.

The Book is broken up into seven chapters:
1. Carl Gustav Jung (biographical background)
2. The Structure of Personality (the psyche, conscious, personal unconscious and collective unconscious)
3. The Dynamics of Personality (psychic energy and values, the principles of equivalence and entropy, etc.)
4. The Development of Personality (individuation, transcendence and integration, etc.)
5. Psychological Types (thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuitive)
6. Symbols and Dreams
7. Jung's Place in Psychology.

For more eminently readable Jungian psychology, try Marie-Louise von Franz.

'Got turned on to the great Dr. Jung in '90. 'Fell in love w/the feeling of 'startling disclosure' that results from studying Jung's work and how his postulates apply to one's daily existence. The excellent authors of this book talk about 'startling disclosure.' In fact, they shared the term w/me in this very book - the first book of Jungian concepts I ever bought - which is frankly the last book on Jungian PSY a reader will ever need.

This book is so clearly written that reading it becomes a numinous experience. Dr. Jung's unique knowledge of universal themes in myths, tales, and dreams, and of alchemy, and Eastern philosophy brings, together with the scientific Western approach, new elements to the understanding of the human psyche. Consequently, I would say that this analytic psychology's chief aim is individuation and self-realization. Hall and Nordby address this matter very lucidly showing the importance of transcendence and intergration in the process of individuation. Indeed, this process is one of self-knowledge, "Education is drawing out from the person, something that is already there in a nascent state, and not the filling up of an empty container with academic knowledge" (p.83). Altogether, this book is a cromprehensive work addresing concepts such as; the collective unconscious, archetypes, complexes, the shadow, introversion and extroversion, and it even includes a brief description of synchronicity. Undoubtedly, it is worth reading,

A concise and informative book on Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis theories such as personality,the instincts,anxiety,repression,defense mechanisms,etc. Calvin S. Hall sumed up some of Freud's most important and groundbreaking theories and teaching in this book. Also with brief bio of Freud and all major events. A great introduction to the complex yet enchanting mind of the great doctor. Explore the mysteries of the Mind.

This book covers all of Freud's work in a brief, yet complete manner. It is a short book, but very full of information. The author's approach truly fulfills his mission. He starts the book talking about Freud and his times, and how his background and natural curiosity led him eventually to found psychoanalysis. In discussing the theories of Freud, Hall begins with basics and sequentially builds to a thorough review of the theories. Some writers are bewildering because they begin discussing more advanced theories before laying the groundwork. Not so here; the author provides all you need to know in a clear, stimulating manner before proceeding to the next level of complexity. Whether you are interested in psychology, psychoanalysis in the arts, psychoanalysis as an historical phenomenon or otherwise, this book is a great resource.

Hall (the author) really does his job here. He explains Freud's theories in an easy to read manner, transforming thousands of pages of Freudian essays into a little over a hundred. Freud's background really helps the reader to understand the man who some say was genius and some say was a fool. The Id, Ego, and Superego are (as it would be expected to be) well outlined and informative. Halls explains Freud's Psychic Energy theory and how the three parts of the conscious mind work together in day to day activities. It wouldn't be Freud if the book didn't mention sex, and Hall does a great job explaining the three zones of the body (oral, anal, and sexual). And, of course, the Oedipal complex is in there, in all it's glory.

And remember, "A cigar is just a cigar..."