Are you interested in exploring the psyche’s depths?
So what are the best books by psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung?
Where should you start?
What other Jungian writers illuminated and built on Jung’s work?
Let’s dive in …
The Insights of Carl Jung and the Jungians
The challenge with exploring the unconscious is that it’s dark, chaotic, messy, and sometimes irrational (from the perspective of our conscious minds).
To explore the nature and structure of the psyche, Jung and the Jungians use three primary sources:
- Myths
- Fairy Tales
- Dreams
Jung found that these sources and the symbolic images expressed within them communicate the common patterns and tendencies of the human psyche.
As such, most Jungian analysis is based on these three sources, as we’ll see below.
Best Carl Jung Books to Start with
The best Carl Jung book will depend on who you are, your current psychological understanding, and your genuine interest level.
Most of Jung’s work is rather dense. Quite honestly, he wasn’t the most lucid writer. Mapping the psyche is no small feat. Jung was brilliant, but in most of his volumes, he hashes out his ideas as he wrote them.
Consequently, most of the best Carl Jung books are arguably not found in his 20-volume collected works—especially for beginners. In fact, most of the “best” Jung books arguably aren’t written by Jung himself.
The best books by Carl Jung for beginners include:
Memories, Dreams, Reflections by C.G. Jung
If I were going to suggest one book by Carl Jung, it would be Memories, Dreams, Reflections (MDR). This autobiography was published posthumously. MDR intimately examines Jung’s life and how he arrived at many classic insights. Even if you don’t like reading biographies (I don’t), this one is different as it’s more of a first-hand illustration of Jung’s work.
Man and His Symbols edited by Carl Jung
Jung’s Man and His Symbols was the last book he wrote before passing. He specifically wrote it to explain his analytic psychology to the general public. Man and His Symbols is a collection of writings from Jung and other Jungians (edited by Jung). It’s easily one of his most accessible books for beginners.
The Undiscovered Self: The Dilemma of the Individual in Modern Society by C.G. Jung
Jung wrote The Undiscovered Self toward the end of his life, specifically for individuals starting in this field. But unlike Man and His Symbols, Jung wrote this book for the next generation, hoping future psychologists would pick up the mantle and continue his work. Jung emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and the need to harmonize the opposites within us.
Modern Man in Search of a Soul by C.G. Jung
Jung examines some of the most vital areas of depth psychology in Modern Man in Search of the Soul. Although some Jungian readers consider this one of Jung’s most important works, I would recommend the other books listed here before reading this one. Modern Man is best read after a Jungian primer.
The Portable Jung Edited by Joseph Campbell
The Portable Jung is an excellent collection of essays from Jung’s collected works, curated by mythologist Joseph Campbell. This book is a terrific way of sampling many of Jung’s writings from his collected works in one, compact book.
Best Jungian Psychology Books
Now, let’s look at a few of the best Jung books written by Jungian authors.
In this section, we’ll still assume you’re relatively new to Jung’s work. Here are a few strong entry points for Jungian psychology:
Jung’s Map Of The Soul: An Introduction By Murray Stein
Stein’s Jung’s Map of the Soul is often the first book people recommend as an entry into Jungian psychology. It’s an excellent summary of Jung’s ideas. Arguably, these ideas are presented more lucidly here than in Jung’s work.
Beginner’s Guide to Jungian Psychology by Robin Robertson
Beginner’s Guide to Jungian Psychology is another solid entry point to Jungian ideas. This book is highly accessible for newcomers as it doesn’t require any prior knowledge.
Ego and Archetype by Edward F. Edinger
One of the most discussed topics in Jungian literature is the relationship between the ego and the Self. Edinger’s Ego and Archetype is an important contribution. Edinger reinforces the key idea that individuation is the goal of the psyche. The undeveloped ego requires encounters with the Self (through repeated cycles) to facilitate this developmental process.
Best Jungian Books for Beginners (Robert A. Johnson)
In my opinion, Robert A. Johnson is one of the best Jungian authors to read. His writing is simple, concise, and artful. Johnson possesses a unique gift of elucidating complex Jungian concepts and illustrating them through specific myths. He’s written over a dozen books, and I would recommend all of them to interested readers.
Owning Your Own Shadow by Robert A. Johnson
This concise 119-page book provides the best explanation of the personal shadow that you can find in print. The shadow represents all the parts of ourselves that we’re unknowingly cut off or divorced from. These disowned parts drive most of our unconscious behavior (outside our awareness). Many of the ideas in Owning Your Own Shadow inspired my popular guide on shadow work.
He: Understanding Masculine Psychology by Robert A. Johnson
Every man should read Johnson’s He. In 82 pages, Johnson explains masculine psychology through the mythology of King Arthur and the Grail legend. I’m not sure I would have understood this book in my 20s. However, I read this book at least six times in my 30s. I appreciated it more after each read. Every woman wanting to understand the masculine psyche will also benefit from this book.
She: Understanding Feminine Psychology by Robert A. Johnson
In this concise 80-page treatise, Johnson breaks down feminine psychology through the myths of Psyche, Eros, and Aphrodite. Reading She with He illuminates how the psyche of men and women are fundamentally different. It’s a handy guide for both women and men.
See also: Feminine Energy and Masculine Energy Explained
We: Understanding the Psychology of Romantic Love by Robert A. Johnson
How can we even attempt to be in a relationship without reading We? We are all so programmed with ideas about romantic love from stories, films, and the media, that human relating is incredibly challenging. Johnson deconstructs romantic love through the myth of Tristan and Iseult. Johnson’s We is a must-read book for anyone attempting a conscious relationship or marriage. Incredibly sobering and instructive.
Inner Gold: Understanding Psychological Projection by Robert Johnson
We tend to project the best parts of ourselves onto others. This process occurs unconsciously, so we must become aware of what we’re doing before we can recollect our projections and own our true power. Inner Gold will show you the way. (I also published a popular guide on psychological projection based on Inner Gold.) Marie-Louis von Franz’s Projection and Re-collection in Jungian Psychology is a more advanced follow-up on this topic.
Inner Work: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth by Robert A. Johnson
The most accessible book on inner work, in my opinion, is Johnson’s Inner Work: Using Dreams & Active Imagination for Personal Growth. Unlike the other books by Robert Johnson listed above, Inner Work is immensely practical and actionable. It reads more like a “how-to” guide. See my guide on inner work for a summary.
Best Jungian Books on Fairy Tales (Marie-Louise von Franz)
As mentioned above, Jungian insights are largely derived from carefully analyzing myths, dreams, and fairy tales. In analyzing fairy tales, Jung’s protege Marie-Louise von Franz is the master.
An accomplished analyst, von Franz focused on exploring the psyche through fairy tales. von Franz did for fairy tales what Joseph Campbell later did for myths.
Many of von Franz’s books are edited transcripts from her lectures. Yet, I found von Franz’s work enlightening and revealing of the psyche’s nature. But not all of them are “easy reads.”
Here’s a selection of the best Jungian books on fairy tales from von Franz:
Interpretation of Fairy Tales by Marie-Louise von Franz
If fairy tales interest you, you might want to start with her Interpretation in Fairy Tales as a primer.
Individuation in Fairy Tales by Marie-Louise von Franz
Although you can get a sense of Jung’s individuation process through his body of work, von Franz’s Individuation in Fairy Tales gives this core Jungian concept more depth and understanding. It’s one of the best Jungian books in my opinion.
Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales by Marie-Louise von Franz
Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales provides an enlightening inside look at the archetypal shadow. The shadow is a foundational concept in Jungian psychology. As von Franz reveals, this shadow archetype plays a central role in many classic fairy tales.
Disclosure: affiliate links above.
Best Jungian Books for Fiction Readers
Jung’s writings inspired numerous novelists. Perhaps the best novelist who blends beautiful stories with Jungian principles is Hermann Hesse.
Novelist Hermann Hesse should be on anyone’s reading list if they like reading psychology books.
Demian: The Story of a Youth by Hermann Hesse
If I had to recommend just one novel by Hermann Hesse that communicates Jungian insights, it would be Demian. (Siddhartha is probably my personal favorite, but I think Demian better fits this list. Enjoy!)
Best Carl Jung Books for Advanced Readers
By “advanced” I mean that you’ve already read many other Jungian books and you have a firm grasp of basic Jungian principles.
Here’s a selection written by Jung himself:
The Red Book: Liber Novus by C.G. Jung
Jung passed in 1961, but The Red Book was published in 2009 (with much controversy). The Red Book is essentially a collection of journal entries (active imagination) and artwork by Jung. Most of the Red Book was created in the period leading up to World War I when Jung had a mental breakdown. Much of the insights found in his later volumes arose from the experiences he documented in The Red Books. Artists especially will find this work fascinating.
Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious (The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, 48)
I suppose if you’re going to read one book from Jung’s collected works, The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious is a good place to start. In this collection of papers and essays, Jung begins to flush out his understanding of the primordial images (archetypes) and how they influence human behavior.
Aion Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 2)
Aion is one of Jung’s most revealing works on the nature of this reality. It can be revelatory at times. Psychologist Jordan Peterson noted that Aion is a “terrifying book.”
Best Jungian Books for Advanced Readers
The Origins and History of Consciousness by Erich Neumann
The Origins and History of Consciousness is a highly influential book in Jungian lore. Jung wrote the foreword for Neumann’s book and even stated that he wished he had written it.
The Parental Image by M. Esther Harding
Mary Esther Harding is another Jungian with an excellent body of work. Anyone interested in depth psychology and who’s involved in inner work will greatly benefit from her titles. In The Parental Image, Harding uses the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish to illustrate the unconscious dynamics that play out between parents and their children. After highlighting how we overcome our parents and their consequent injuries, the book focuses on how we heal these injuries through the development of consciousness and the individuation process.
Additional Best Carl Jung Books and Jungian Authors
The pantheon of books in Jungian literature is vast. As I drafted this review, my mind went in many different directions simultaneously. Here are a few more noteworthy selections:
If you’re interested in occult symbolism, perhaps the best Carl Jung books include Psychology and Alchemy (Volume 12) and Alchemical Studies (Volume 13).
If you’re looking for the best Jungian book on dreams, try to find a copy of Fraser Boa’s The Way of the Dream: Conversations with Marie-Louise von Franz. Unfortunately, the book is out of print, but you can find used copies. This book is an edited transcript of an 8-hour documentary that you can still find online.
In terms of neo-Jungians, I highly recommend the work of Robert Moore. King Warrior Magician Lover by Moore and Douglas Gillette is an excellent primer. Another popular neo-Jungian author is James Hillman.
Thoughts?
Do you have other favorite Carl Jung books?
Share your comments below.
Read Next
Jung’s Anima and Animus: A Deep Dive
What is Depth Psychology? (10 Core Concepts)
A Beginner’s Guide to Classic Jungian Archetypes
A Beginner’s Guide to Female Archetypes (Including a List of 55+ Examples)
Insightful book: June Singer (1973) “Boundaries of the Soul” – The Practice of Jung’s Psychology