BLUE FIRE: Selected Writings by James Hillman

This selection was published in 1989; James Hillman died in 2011, so of course it omits the last 20 years of his fairly copious writings. Nonetheless it is representative of the main themes of Hillman's extraordinary work, and the only such selection available. Plus it has the benefit of editor Thomas Moore's useful Introduction, and his mini-introductions to each section of of the book. Moore knows Hillman's work intimately, worked closely on the selection with Hillman himself, and is also the author of a first class body of work based on archetypal psychology. The best possible appetiser this is to a most original thinker.

A very good selection of the work of a profound thinker, it isn't focussed on psychology alone , it is a series of meditations on life, including dreams, imagination, therapy art. It could change your outlook forever. An essential book.

ha my daughter's main toilet reading for several months now - great book to dip into & be baffled. delivery was prompt - good stuff

try to buy recommended books second hand, so i can share without the expectation of getting them back. looking forward to reading.

Great book

I wasn't sure whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars. On the one hand, certain parts of this book changed the way I look at the world for ever, while other parts were not as dramatic. The book is a collection of excerpts from various James Hillman writings. Some the of the excerpts, as I said, were amazing. Others I did not really enjoy as much. Overall though, I really enjoyed the book, and so ultimately chose to give it a 5 stars. Having only read 2 James Hillman books so far (this along with The Souls Code), I don't know how this would compare to other books. This book has definitely made me want to read more James Hillman.

I'm still reading it. For sure, it is a very nice book.

This is my third book by James Hillman, after The Soul's Code and The Dream and ther Underworld, next in line is Re-Visioning Psychology. It will take time before his name and his work will enter "popular culture" as that of Freud or Jung. And if it never happens, it may be because his ideas, and his imaginal psychology do not serve the purpose of psycotherapy as it was conceived in the tewntieth century. His books are to be read pencil in hand, going back and forth, to really undertand how and why Jung's individuation evolves into Hillman's 'soul-making'.

I love this book. The commentary by Thomas Moore is so enlightening. I imagine -- it's like being instructed on Socrates by Plato. The work, which I'm still in process of bringing into my world, is opening up a dimension of existence for me that I live in but do not understand. Hillman's work requires a surrender, and Moore encourages that surrender by illuminating the depths.