I Read 693 Psychology Books: Here Are The Few That Fixed Me - Inner Work Library [161/500]

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares the five transformative books that profoundly impacted their life, focusing on trauma healing, psychology, and self-development. They discuss 'Trauma and the Soul' by Donald Kalsched, which helped restore their will to live, 'King, Warrior, Magician, Lover' by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette for understanding masculine archetypes, 'The Voice of the Body' by Alexander Lowen on bioenergetics, 'A Brief History of Everything' by Ken Wilber for integral philosophy, and 'Young's Map of the Soul' by Murray Stein for an overview of Jungian psychology. The speaker also suggests three bonus books for further self-exploration, encouraging viewers to reflect on the books that have shaped their own journeys.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker has spent 13,000 to 14,000 hours reading 700 psychology books, rereading about 160 of them over the last 5 years.
• 🌟 'Trauma and the Soul' by Donald Kalsched is highlighted as a pivotal book that helped restore the speaker's will to live after a period of existential crisis.
• 🧍‍♂️ 'King, Warrior, Magician, Lover' by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette is recommended for understanding masculine psychology, with alternatives suggested for female readers.
• 🔮 'The Voice of the Body' by Alexander Lowen is praised for its insights on bioenergetics and emotional expression, particularly for men.
• 🧘 'A Treatise on White Magic' by Alice Bailey is an esoteric read that provides a deep understanding of spiritual concepts like reincarnation and the soul.
• 🧠 'The Religion of Tomorrow' by Ken Wilber is noted for its integral approach to advancing consciousness and understanding different spiritual philosophies.
• 🌈 'Young's Map of the Soul' by Murray Stein is recognized as a comprehensive guide to Jungian psychology, including concepts like complexes and archetypes.
• 🤝 'Internal Family Systems Therapy' by Richard Schwartz is recommended for those interested in self-integration and working with inner parts.
• 👨‍🏫 'The Living Classroom' by Christopher Bache discusses the role of the teacher in transmitting esoteric knowledge and inspiring collective growth.
• 🔑 The speaker suggests that the titles of the books he chose reflect key aspects of his personal journey, including spirituality, embodiment, and mapping a path for the future.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video is the transformative impact of certain books on the speaker's life, focusing on trauma healing, psychology, and personal development.

How many hours has the speaker spent reading psychology books?

The speaker has spent around 13,000 to 14,000 hours reading psychology books.

What is the significance of the five books mentioned in the video?

The five books mentioned are significant because they represent a full spectrum of multi-stage self-integration, addressing both personal wounds and ambitions for self-actualization.

What is the first book discussed in the video and why is it important?

The first book discussed is 'Trauma and the Soul' by Donald Kalsched. It is important because it helped the speaker restore his will to live after a period of existential despair.

What is the concept of the 'soul's protective mechanism' as mentioned in 'Trauma and the Soul'?

The 'soul's protective mechanism' refers to the idea that a part of one's identity may temporarily leave the body to protect it from severe trauma or suffering.

What are the alternatives for women to 'King, Warrior, Magician, Lover'?

For women, alternatives to 'King, Warrior, Magician, Lover' include 'Goddess in Every Woman' by Jean Shinoda Bolen and 'Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen' by Mara Branson.

How does 'The Voice of the Body' by Alexander Lowen influence the speaker's understanding of embodiment?

The book 'The Voice of the Body' helped the speaker understand how to live in an emotionally intelligent way with mind and body in harmony, and how to cathartically release pent-up emotions.

What is the integral philosophy book recommended by the speaker for spiritual and existential growth?

The speaker recommends 'The Religion of Tomorrow' by Ken Wilber for those interested in integral philosophy and spiritual growth.

Why does the speaker suggest reading 'A Treatise on White Magic' by Alice Bailey?

The speaker suggests 'A Treatise on White Magic' for its esoteric philosophy and grounded approach to New Age ideas, providing a deeper understanding beyond superficial spiritual experiences.

What is the final book recommended in the video and how does it relate to the speaker's personal path?

The final book recommended is 'The Living Classroom' by Christopher Bache. It relates to the speaker's personal path as an online teacher and coach, focusing on transmitting deep spiritual and cognitive truths effectively.

What is the unique exercise the speaker suggests at the end of the video?

The speaker suggests an exercise where viewers select five books that have significantly impacted their lives and then create a summary of their journey using the key words from the titles of those books.