Summary

C.G. Jung's "Liber Novus," also known as "The Red Book," stands as a pivotal work in understanding the genesis of his influential theories. Penned over sixteen years, this book, until recently unpublished, has already profoundly impacted twentieth-century social and intellectual history. Jung himself considered it the nucleus of his later works, recognizing its key role in comprehending their origin. Despite its significance, "Liber Novus" has remained largely inaccessible for study, with only a few glimpses available.

The book documents Jung's extended self-exploration during World War I, a period he termed his "confrontation with the unconscious." "The Red Book," a large, illuminated volume created between 1914 and 1930, contains the heart of his later works. It was within these pages that Jung developed his core theories of archetypes, the collective unconscious, and the process of individuation. These concepts transformed psychotherapy from a practice focused solely on treating illness into a means for the higher development of the personality.

Jung considered "The Red Book" his most important work, yet only a select few have ever laid eyes on it. This makes it arguably the most influential unpublished work in the history of psychology. Now, a complete facsimile and translation, edited and introduced by Sonu Shamdasani, makes this vital work accessible to scholars and the general public. The volume showcases stunning calligraphy and art, drawing influences from diverse cultures, including Persia and the Mayan empires. It stands as a work of beauty comparable to illuminated manuscripts like "The Book of Kells" and those of William Blake. Its publication marks a watershed moment, inaugurating a new era in Jung studies.

Within the pages of "Liber Novus," Jung grapples with the spirit of the depths, a force that compels him to speak beyond justification, use, and meaning. This spirit challenges the prevailing spirit of the time, which prioritizes use and value. Jung recounts his initial resistance to this other spirit, driven by pride and the presumptuousness of his era. However, he comes to realize that the spirit of the depths possesses a greater power, capable of subduing pride and arrogance. It dismantles his belief in science, robs him of the joy of explaining and ordering things, and allows his devotion to contemporary ideals to fade.

Ultimately, the spirit of the depths takes Jung's understanding and knowledge and places them at the service of the inexplicable and paradoxical. It deprives him of speech and writing for anything not in its service, focusing on the merging of sense and nonsense to produce supreme meaning. This supreme meaning, according to Jung, is the path, the way, and the bridge to what is to come, the God yet to be. It is not the God himself but his image. This transformative journey is meticulously documented in "Liber Novus," offering profound insights into the development of Jung's psychological framework.