Through the Dark Wood: Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life

by James Hollis

Have you ever looked at your career, your relationships, or your role in life and wondered, “Is this why I’m really here?” If so, then you are ready for your “midlife crisis”―the pivotal time when you have the opportunity to become the person your soul seeks to be.

“When the illusions of our youth begin to crumble,” explains James Hollis, “we reach a turning point that the poet Dante called the ‘dark wood.’” With Through the Dark Wood , this author and Jungian analyst reveals the steps we all must take on our road to true maturity, meaning, and fulfillment.

When the Second Half of Life Begins

How do you know when you’ve reached the “second half ”of life? According to Hollis, the first sign comes when you feel dissatisfied by where you are today―and hear a call from within to live a more purposeful life. This marks the collision between your “False Self,” created from the expectations of others, and your instinctive “True Self.”

Drawing upon his experiences with hundreds of clients, Hollis provides an essential map for traversing the universal challenges of midlife, such as building genuine relationships, cultivating a mature spirituality, and letting go of old beliefs that no longer serve you.

An Invaluable Guide through the Challenges of Midlife

“The second half of life isn’t about looking for easy answers,” James Hollis says. “It’s about honestly exploring the questions that bring richness and value to your life.” With Through the Dark Wood , this penetrating thinker shares a lifetime of insights about how to navigate your life’s most turbulent passages―and emerge from the darkness wiser, stronger, and in greater harmony with your soul’s purpose.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Philosophy, Personal Development, Spirituality

Audio CD

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

James Hollis, Ph. D., was born in Springfield, Illinois, and graduated from Manchester University in 1962 and Drew University in 1967. He taught Humanities 26 years in various colleges and universities before retraining as a Jungian analyst at the Jung Institute of Zurich, Switzerland (1977-82). He is presently a licensed Jungian analyst in private practice in Washington, D.C. He served as Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center in Houston, Texas for many years and now was Executive Director of the Jung Society of Washington until 2019, and now serves on the JSW Board of Directors. He is a retired Senior Training Analyst for the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, was first Director of Training of the Philadelphia Jung Institute, and is Vice-President Emeritus of the Philemon Foundation. Additionally he is a Professor of Jungian Studies for Saybrook University of San Francisco/Houston.

He lives with his wife Jill, an artist and retired therapist, in Washington, DC. Together they have three living children and eight grand-children.

He has written a total of seventeen books, which have been translated into Swedish, Russian, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Portuguese, Turkish, Italian, Korean, Finnish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Farsi, Japanese, Greek, Chinese, Serbian, Latvian, Ukranian and Czech.

Reviews

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking brilliant.

So good.

My only (1/2) complaint is that he’s a bit discursive.

Almost like a comedian that doesn’t wait until one joke lands before telling another.

But that’s also a legitimate part of the magic.

As a listener, your just trying to keep up.

Pausing every minute or so to allow your mind to spin on the relentless precious insights.

So good.

Fucking brilliant.

[Anthony Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the several books of James Hollis I have read, I would say this is the most comprehensive book I know of. Whereas some books may not lend themselves to the audio format all that well, this one I think does. It is spread over 6 CDs and about as many hours of listening. Each CD is dedicated to several subjects, but each subject is discussed in connection with the subjects on the other CDs.

I have listened to each CD many, many times, often finding bits and pieces that stand out, having missed their significance on previous listens. I really like it that the voice is Dr. Hollis himself. Actually, his book "What Really Matters" is a great book, but the audio version is read by someone else who doesn't do as good a job as Dr. Hollis himself. Please note Brilliance Audio people, Dr. Hollis should be encouraged to read his own work for any future recordings.

In my opinion, this audiobook has something to offer everyone, because most of the things discussed are things everyone experiences at different point in their life. This is something to listen to while driving, or while out for a walk, or in the comfort of home. It requires some thinking and self-observation, but an attentive listen and some honest effort can pay off as you progress on your own path toward understanding.

One little jewel that I keep appreciating, which Hollis mentions, is a quote from Herman Hesse, and it says, in more or less the same language, that each of us is a little experiment of nature, and our job is to be ourselves, to bring to fruition the unique things that make us different from others. Before reading this book, I had arrived at the same thought having worked in brain and spinal cord research. And it was reassuring to see that 2 others discovered the same "truth".

Another significant point that I keep appreciating is Hollis' contention that life isn't so much about being happy, as it is about finding meaning. Meaning comes through the suffering life lays on each of us, and our discovery and growth that are the result of whatever the suffering may be.

In any case, it takes time to appreciate the significance of many of the things Hollis has to say, but I do completely agree with most, if not all the concepts Hollis discusses in this and other books.

If I could require that every adult of 30 years or more spend time with this, I would. Subsequent listenings will continue to provide great material for thinking, discovery, and growth.

[Angelo John Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book for me was profound. It helped me contextualize issues I was facing in the second half of my life. Hollis' thoughts about what constitutes mature spirituality were on the mark. I'll likely return to this again.

[György · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above.” KATHARINE HEPBURN, as Miss Rose Sayer, in The African Queen

Writing a review for the "Through the Dark Wood" on my birthday where the senescence is the subject is rather eyebrow liftingly cute, if you don't mind to I coin an oxymoron for you to get a sense of a mental curve ball.
The author Mr. James Hollis has succeeded in his intent to brief us, us, in second half. Sure, we're getting older and older, and that's the way the nature works. He made it really gently while introduced us to the, almost, all aspects - of bodily and mentally changes. Wow, hope you don't expect me to say it's a dream ride. I don't like to use actual quotes from the book I'm writing the review for, but I have to make exception that will enable me to make a powerful point! Mr. Hollis stated like, even in suffering we can find a way to live meaningful life!
Well, I gotta a go to prepare for my BD cake, so will be very brief. When I was on knees ( I know many do or were experienced this) when I started wondering over how I want to arrive to the end - with or without scars, - I had to respond to the ultimatum similar to that Leonidas got from Xerxes: 'Deliver up your arms'! But, Leonidas was a king warrior he would rather die if missed the opportunity no to be laconic - he just said to Xerxes: Molon Labe.
Nice book, worth listening.

[Amanda Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'The spirit of evil is negation of the life force by fear. Only boldness can deliver us from evil.' Carl Jung. And if the choice is not made, the meaning of life is violated."

This quote was in his other book too. Hollis is self help when you feel like you've got all you could from the genre. He goes deeper into bits the genre seems to scratch the surface on. This one was written for folks in their 40s and on but it is really for anyone going through a dark transition or oppositely looking around, realizing you have everything you want but your soul is still craving something. I think each reader will find their own thing that means something to them in here which is great bc maybe I'll read it again at my for real middle of life.

[Evan Micheals · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Hollis is a Jungian Analyst who wrote Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life. I liked it well enough to listen to this audio book. I found this provocative and had me reflecting and contemplating. It has that quality of asking you good questions, not giving you answers. Hollis states, “The goal of life is to be consistently defeated by ever larger things”. Hollis poses great question that sing to me.

I agree that “Modern psychology has forgotten the psyche”. Hollis uses psyche as being synonymous with soul. It seems to me that the behaviourists have won and the underlying assumption that we are rationale. The child of behaviourism is CBT, which Hollis describes as superficial, which I agree with. Our public does not fund the sort of psychotherapy that Hollis describes. A limited approach will lead to limited results. Words like soul are mysterious and not rationale and do not fit into the standard contemporary approach.

I love this work and where it is leading me into the Dark Wood. It is esoteric and will not suit most people. This is the approach to use when others have not bought satisfactory results. The approach for deep and difficult people, because they contemplate the hard questions that one cannot give a good and rationale answer too.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book. Much much wisdom for life here. Lots to chew on.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call it transference, but I absolutely love Dr. Hollis.

The wisdom he offers is medicine for the very troubled world we live in.

[MG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply one of the most meaningful, helpful, and deep books I have read/listened to in a long time (only available as an audiobook). Each chapter is worth three or four therapy sessions. How to summarize? Each of us develop projections and complexes in order to grow up and in the second half we need to work through these and develop our own personal authority, stop burdening our significant others with these, and truly grow up. That sentence does not begin to capture the depth and accessibility of Hollis's approach, and so suffice it to say that I strongly recommend the book for guidance in handling the mid-life/empty-next transition.

[GhostlyAspect · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!
If you are looking for answers on how to find yourself in this busy and complex life, how to understand what all the emotions we and others are having mean and do -- this book is for you. Take you time, don't rush through it, give this book and yourself time. Listen to it while you are walking through the woods, through the streets of old towns. Explore and learn, go deeper with it, follow it where it is going. This book can take you to many places if you late it. Enjoy!

[John B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vital book for anyone who has suddenly been stopped dead in their tracks and thought, "What was all that about, anyway?!?" referring to the active phase of life, now vanished, diminished, or voided of meaning. Whoa - so what's ahead? This book will tell you of an exciting journey that pulls it all together and points the way to an extraordinary inner adventure.

[Naretha Bekker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I have listened to the audio book, actually I keep on listening every day as there is so many issues that James discuss. Every time I learn something new which assist me in finding meaning in my life and circumstances.

[Lindsey H Hulet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to James Hollis and I am hooked! The section on swamplands we walk through in life was particularly poignant and relevant. I listened to the section on doubt below about ten times because I found it so profound. I also learned a lot about what it means to be a spiritually mature and developed person.

I have already purchased my next book by him and can’t wait to learn more.

"Still another swampland is doubt. The defense against doubt will lead to rigidity, it leads to sterility, it leads to a narrowness. And yet doubt destabilizes our ego security needs again. But as we know, doubt is critical for change and growth..It's doubt that gets you an education. It's doubt that has produced every scientific and cultural advance. Doubt is necessary for democracy....But most importantly, doubt is a form of radical relationship to and respect for mystery.

The absence of doubt is a very scary thing. What that leads to is psychologological, political, economic, spiritual fundamentalism. It leads to rigidity. It leads to a profound defense of the ego security needs above all things. As we'll look at in later sessions, the absence of doubt ultimately leads to a violation of the mystery itself. When we're open to the possibility that we don't know, we are then in right relationship to the mystery. Most of the time, we don't know enough to know that we don't know enough. And yet, an aroused consciousness says always 'I don't really know enough to know what's going on here, but I'm open to possibility.'

But you see that causes us anxiety and we don't like that. So anxiety is treated by the search for certainty. And certainty, wherever we think we've found it, will lead to dogma. And wherever we have dogma, in time it leads to rigidity, and that rigidity ultimately leads to idolatry. Idolatry not only leads to a psychologically and spiritually narrowing horizon, it also again violates relationship to the mystery.

On the other hand, toleration of ambiguity, toleration of doubt, brings about an openness. From openness we get revelation. And from revelation, or discovery, we get enlargement.

So doubt is critical for growth and development. We need to be able to doubt all of our values, without throwing them out, we need to examine them. It's sort of like every once in a while we have to stop and open our suitcase and look at what we've been carrying in there for a while. Some of the attitudes, behaviors, practices that perhaps made perfect sense years ago (or maybe didn't even then), need to be discarded. We need to be able to doubt in order to serve the mystery of this journey."

[Leanne Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Hollis is a renown psychologist and his treatment of the difficulties of midlife is well-informed and clearly presented. The audio version takes the form of a series of lectures by the author himself, and I gather is sometimes used as course material for obtaining certification in training.
I enjoyed the parts of the book about individual crises more than I did the parts about relationships, although I appreciate that relationships can produce midlife crises and therefore deserve attention. Everything that is discussed is taken very seriously and explained very carefully, so that the listener gets a chance to consider and apply each topic's contents to his or her own life.
Essentially, what I gleaned from the book is that life is always presenting new challenges and that it is our responsibility to engage with them to the best of our ability. Engaging can be hard, but refusing to engage causes an accumulation of problems that can eventually cripple a person emotionally. The only way through the dark wood is through, and the only way to make it through successfully is to be skilled at tackling whatever comes up with patience, perseverance and compassion for oneself and others.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Hollis is a Jungian analyst and had some great theories on how to find meaning in life… now I had some issues with his views on men versus women. I felt he was giving men a bit of a pass on some of their issues, blaming things on “lost fathers“ well placing some burden on women as mothers causing the relationship issues between men and women. Had to double check I wasn’t reading Freud.

However I am forever grateful for the insight he gave me on the “committee of the interior” which is the best phrase I’ve ever heard for a writer’s procrastination. Whenever he has a project and he isn’t quite sure how to start he will “send it to the committee of the interior“ as soon enough they will send it back to him ready to start…. I’ve always called this my “percolation time” but I’m more than happy to have a committee behind me now.

[paperwhitereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sped through listening to this book and I think I need to revisit it again. Key insights from my half-attention listening:

-fear and lethargy are symptoms that shows us the resistance we need to pay attention to
-dreams are important n revealing
-no one can tell us the answer, and in fact there is none. we have to take the journey to keep finding out
-relationships are best when we don’t hold each other responsible for taking care of our life tasks
-deep down we already have the answer
-often some kind of trauma or suffering is necessary to mature us so we don’t stay in our infantilised state
-if you ask large questions, you’ll have an interesting life
-“we’re all walking in shoes that are too small for us”
-“does it enlarge me or diminish me?”
there’s sth inside of each of us that knows us better than we know ourselves.

[Corbin Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollis may be a new favorite Non-fiction author of mine now… I feel like this man is speaking directly to my spirit itself. (Melodramatic I know)

Loved the eloquent approach of asking questions to prompt more critical and spiritual thinking, rather than handing out answers and “truths”. The depths of Jungian psychology feels beyond me at times, but in the utmost best of ways.

100 percent exploring more books by Hollis.

“In the end, relationship is mysterious because what matters most is mysterious. We never figure it out, we never get a formula. So much of what passes for advice to people in relationship, in my view, is superficial, it trivializes the soul, the death, the complexity. It’s a mystery to be suffered, to be explored and to be enlarged by.”

“The purpose of life is to be continuously defeated by ever larger things.” - Rilke

[Alison Scott]

People listen and relisten to Hollis's work. It's dense, and complex, and I'm never sure whether I agree or not. But it is very thought provoking. The density means that my next self-help will be something more relaxing.

There is a section addressed to men - it seems very outdated to me, both in the articulation of the ways in which men and women's mental health differs and the choice to address the section mostly to men, despite the fact that 'most of the people seeking help are women'. The explicit instruction to women to shoulder the burden of sorting out their menfolk's issues was frustrating.

[Ziedonis Rijkuris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listen to audio books because I have a 45 minute drive to and from work each day. It keeps me mentally stimulated and always learning.
I gave this book 2 stars because in print form, it may be a fascinating read, but as an audio book, it was constantly trying to put me to sleep (not ideal while driving) the monotonous tone was driving me crazy (pun intended). whilst the author has good points and I cant fault his material, I don't recommend this book for people who listen while driving. I couldn't get to the end of the book.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.4/5 - amazing group of lectures, James Hollis is amazing. So eloquent and wise - this is probably worth revisiting every 3-5 years, what a timeless collection of wisdom to reflect on at various stages in one's life. I love the heavy influence of Jungian psychology, it really makes me want to read more Jung, and understand more about complexes and neuroses, and all that jazz. Several times in listening to this when Hollis would pose a set of questions I had to just stop and give it space to think about what he was saying and what I would respond with. Fantastic overall.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have valued this book much more if I had read it 30 years ago. He talks a lot about how mentally healthy change a lot during the second half of life. Well that was 30 years ago which is depressing enough in itself. The book was validating because I corresponded to what looked like a healthy trajectory for my "second half." I really liked author who narrated the book. I bet he is a wonderful therapist; he has a very calm voice. If you are around 40 and feeling a little lost, this just might be the book for you.

[wholesome bat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I myself am not in the “second half of life” in the way that he often refers to, but so much of this is pertinent to the human existence in general. I’m also a therapist and found so many of the things that he said and spoke about do be so insightful and powerful. This definitely greatly informed my practice as well as general outlook on life, and I can definitely see myself circling back to this book at many different phases of my life and seeing how it sits with me differently then.

[Pat Rolston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so pleased with my first James Hollis book, ‘A Life of Meaning,’ I jumped in and read this as a follow up. The wonder of this work by Hollis is he manages to captivate with a more focused effort about the ‘second half of life.’ I was prepared to back out of this book given the potential for recycling prior ideas. There was no such repetition and in fact the author puts forth a roadmap for a rich path to optimize life for seniors. The book is ideal for couples to read together as it has the potential to deeply strengthen any relationship through personal actualization benefiting both.

[Lisa J Shultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book twice this month. Quarantined in my home allowed me to really get into this book. It applies to life outside of the coronavirus pandemic time period but seemed extra special right now. The subtitle is "Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life" but it could also pertain to "Finding Meaning During the Covid-19 Pandemic". Now is a good time to search for meaning and this book guides the way.

[M A R Y A M ⚘ م ر ي م · Rating 5 out of 5]

These talks are really nice and I like the teachings of James, he seems to be influenced very much by Jung, which I am excited to delve deeper into his teachings as well. The series is filled with questions and requires a lot of reflection. Highly recommended for someone who is really not happy with where they are in life and want to sort of take the steering wheel back and take their own path- as every human on this planet should. We are individuals for that sole reason.

[cristian m · Rating 5 out of 5]

I resonated with this. While at times it verges on ambiguous universalities akin to astrology, Hollis adds a level of profundity to each observation that bypasses the truism. I appreciated the focus on ambiguity and ambivalence and especially the point that we shouldn't run away from our fears and discomfort; these are essential and key to our development. His voice and conversational tone (this is an audio lecture) are also very soothing.

[Gary Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a seven hour one to one psychotherapy session when you listen to it on Audible, it takes you into your pysche and asks some good reflective questions. More suited to people interested in the transcendental. I learnt I'm reasonably happy, think along some of these lines already, but reinforced some things. Worth a read or listen.

[Akibsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, meaningful ... This is a book (audio) that I will listen to many times. I have no words to describe its depth and richness. The chapter about men is in particular a revelation and something that should be shared to the world at large.

[Laurmei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great series of talks by James Hollis. I cannot put into words how much this author's work has been life-changing for me and I highly recommend his books for anyone on their own journey of individuation.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it really worthwhile to listen to this book, which was broken down into six sessions. I can see myself going back to listen to this again to remind myself of the insights presented. I recommend it to others searching for some wisdom and guidance in the second half of life.