The Force of Character | Free Book
And the Lasting Life
In his bestselling The Soul's Code, James
Hillman restored passion and meaning to the
concept of identity, arguing that each of us is born with an innate
character, the "daimon" or "spirit" that calls us to what
we are meant to be. Now, in The Force of Character, Hillman
brings the idea of character full circle, offering a revolutionary new
vision of life's most feared and misunderstood chapter: old age.
"Aging is no accident," Hillman writes. "It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul." We become more characteristic of who we are simply by lasting into later years; the older we become, the more our true natures emerge. Thus the final years have a very important purpose: the fulfillment and confirmation of one's character.
Contrary to the current genetic determinism that sees increased longevity as a wasted aberrance created by civilization, The Force of Character presents an explosive new thesis: The changes of old age, even the debilitating ones, have purposes and values organized by the psyche. Memory for recent events may falter, offering more place for long-term recollections. A heart condition in later life brings an opportunity to remove blockages from constricted relationships, while changes in sleep patterns allow the old to experience the profound elements of nighttime that we usually overlook. As Hillman says, "Aging makes metaphors of biology."
In this empowering and original work, James Hillman resurrects the ancient, widespread, and socially effective idea of the old person as "ancestor," a model for the young, the bearer of a society's cultural memory and traditions. America disregards old people who aren't young-acting and young-looking. We don't realize that "oldness" is an archetypal state of being that can add value and luster to things we treasure, places we revere, and people's character. When we open our imaginations to the idea of the ancestor, aging can free us from convention and transform us into a force of nature, releasing our deepest beliefs for the benefit of society. For all who read it, The Force of Character will be a seminal, life-affirming experience.
"Aging is no accident," Hillman writes. "It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul." We become more characteristic of who we are simply by lasting into later years; the older we become, the more our true natures emerge. Thus the final years have a very important purpose: the fulfillment and confirmation of one's character.
Contrary to the current genetic determinism that sees increased longevity as a wasted aberrance created by civilization, The Force of Character presents an explosive new thesis: The changes of old age, even the debilitating ones, have purposes and values organized by the psyche. Memory for recent events may falter, offering more place for long-term recollections. A heart condition in later life brings an opportunity to remove blockages from constricted relationships, while changes in sleep patterns allow the old to experience the profound elements of nighttime that we usually overlook. As Hillman says, "Aging makes metaphors of biology."
In this empowering and original work, James Hillman resurrects the ancient, widespread, and socially effective idea of the old person as "ancestor," a model for the young, the bearer of a society's cultural memory and traditions. America disregards old people who aren't young-acting and young-looking. We don't realize that "oldness" is an archetypal state of being that can add value and luster to things we treasure, places we revere, and people's character. When we open our imaginations to the idea of the ancestor, aging can free us from convention and transform us into a force of nature, releasing our deepest beliefs for the benefit of society. For all who read it, The Force of Character will be a seminal, life-affirming experience.
In The Press
"Marvelous . . . For a book about longevity, The Force of Character is
just about perfect, not only for the wisdom of its content but also
for its tone and pace."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"This
is a book that will comfort someone afraid of getting old. Its gentle
messages shine through."
--Los Angeles Times
"Provocative
. . . Hillman breathes new life into a venerable concept, and in so
doing helps us to rediscover the soulful possibilities of aging."
--Publishers
Weekly
- Title: The Force of Character | Free Book
- Author: Steven
- Created at : 2024-10-20 16:40:15
- Updated at : 2024-10-26 23:42:17
- Link: https://novels-ebooks.techidaily.com/1043841-9780307828590-the-force-of-character/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.