The Lover Within

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In this final volume in the four-book series that began with The King Within , Jungian analyst Moore and mythologist Gillette, a counselor, examine the Lover archetype within the male psyche (the others are the King, the Warrior, and the Magician--each examined in a previous volume). The authors trace how the Lover--the feeling side of men's nature--gives rise to passion, creativity and the pursuit of pleasure. Through the Lover's energy, the conscious mind may encounter the personal and collective unconscious. However, the authors contend, because many men fear being consumed--and thus emasculated--by the Lover's energy, they suppress their feelings and creative instincts. At the opposite extreme, a man can become possessed by the Lover, which then manifests itself as an addictive personality (whether to alcohol, drugs, food or relationships). A potpourri of Jungian theory and mythology, with anecdotes from Moore's workshops and private practice, this book attempts to show men how to get in touch with their inner Lover and use its energies without becoming consumed by them. Careful notes supply documentation for the authors' statements. Photos not seen by PW. (Aug.)

Joe Collins

Of all the books on the seemingly ubiquitous men's movement, this one tackles the most intimate issue facing men today, man's sensuality. Moore, a Jungian psychologist, cofounded the men's movement with the celebrated Robert Bly, and he has written three previous books on the "archetypes" of man: warrior, king, and magician. Here he teams with Gillette, a mythologist in the Joseph Campbell mold, to plumb the complex depths of man as lover. The authors break down the aspects of the lover and examine them thoroughly, beginning with the libido. From there, they explore the importance of the male organ itself, how and why men fall in love, and, perhaps most fascinating, the relationship of the lover to man as artist. Using Erich Neumann's "Art and the Creative Unconscious" as a guide, the authors even explain how art is created from "channeled neouroses." In addition, there are extensive discussions of polygamy, monogamy, so-called "serial monogamy," and promiscuity. Finally, aberrations such as sexual addiction, impotence, and even such related disorders as anorexia, alcoholism, and cocaine addiction are brought into play. All of this is reflected in the light of Jungian psychology, Greek mythology, and biblical references; there are also pop-cultural references to Norman Mailer's "Ancient Evenings", Danny DeVito's film version of "The War of the Roses", and various bumper stickers. Women get their due here as well, as Moore and Gillette draw from such books as Robin Norwood's "Women Who Love Too Much" and Jean Shinoda Boden's "Goddesses in Every Woman, The Lover Within" is densely written, and, while many casual readers may be perplexed by it, it will generate much interest.