In this title, around 350 incisive essays and almost 800 full-color images evoke the hidden dimensions of archetypal symbology - showing how symbols in art, religion, life or dreams can lead to transformational experience and psychological resonance. This is an exploration of symbols and their meanings. "The Book of Symbols" combines original and incisive essays about particular symbols with representative images from all parts of the world and all eras of history. The highly readable texts and almost 800 beautiful full-color images come together in a unique way to convey hidden dimensions of meaning. Each of the c. 350 essays examines a given symbol's psychic background, and how it evokes psychic processes and dynamics. Etymological roots, the play of opposites, paradox and shadow, the ways in which diverse cultures have engaged a symbolic image - all these factors are taken into consideration. Authored by writers from the fields of psychology, religion, art, literature, and comparative myth, the essays flow into each other in ways that mirror the psyche's unexpected convergences. There are no pat definitions of the kind that tend to collapse a symbol; a still vital symbol remains partially unknown, compels our attention and unfolds in new meanings and manifestations over time. Rather than merely categorize, "The Book of Symbols" illuminates how to move from the visual experience of a symbolic image in art, religion, life, or dreams, to directly experiencing its personal and psychological resonance. "The Book of Symbols" sets new standards for thoughtful exploration of symbols and their meanings, and will appeal to a wide range of readers: artists, designers, dreamers and dream interpreters, psychotherapists, self-helpers, gamers, comic book readers, religious and spiritual searchers, writers, students, and anyone curious about the power of archetypal images. This title is suitable for readers of works of high-quality popular history by Schama, Marr and Kynaston, as well as families and individuals looking for a one-stop history of Britain that takes a strikingly different approach from standard narrative histories.
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The Book of Symbols is an exhaustive reference work that charts the visual representation of human experience. It's also a must for designers... Even at first glance the 800-page volume was thrilling... it was still possible, even now, for publishers to do something we have never seen before... This citadel of a book is divided into five main sections... Almost every significant area of human experience and symbolism is documented. Each symbol receives at least a double-page spread...The book's picture selection, a monumental feat of research, is outstanding, with images and artifacts from every culture and period in history to demonstrate the recurrence of these archetypal symbols... Regular TASCHEN designers Andy Disl and Birgit Eichwede of Sense/Net in Cologne have designed The Book of Symbols and once again have done a magnificent job. The two-column layout is restrained and unflashy as befits a project of this gravity, but not the slightest bit textbooky or dull. The balance of text and pictures against white space is perfectly measured: the book feels dense with information yet leaves plenty of room to breathe as you explore its corridors and chambers. It's a pleasure to get lost in. The Book of Symbols is a project of mind-blowing ambition and reach, and a book with an almost old-fashioned educational appeal. Bright, optimistic, bountiful and brainy, it makes you reel with a sense of wonder at the complexity of the human mind and soul... This fabulously instructive and inspiring work of reference will make an inexhaustible addition to any design studio library. No home should be without one either. All human life is in there. You can't ask for more than that.
--Creative Review, London
--Creative Review, London
From the Publisher
Around 350 incisive essays and almost 800 full-color images evoke the hidden dimensions of archetypal symbology -- showing how symbols in art, religion, life or dreams can lead to transformational experience and psychological resonance
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an outstanding book - from content, to cover and how the book is put together and with the materials it is crafted from. A beautiful volume to be well loved and well thumbed for many, many years to come. In my opinion, the best book of symbols I've seen so far. I'm very happy with it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Zoe
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a book obviously created with great care. Very nice essays, useful for the understanding of the perception of the world and its images through time.
It is very inclusive, you will find images such as the umbrella or the car, which takes it further than tradition.
But beware! This is NOT a book where you will read about the meaning of ouroboros, or the ankh, or the celtic cross, etc., etc. The word archetypal in the subtitle is of great importance. If this is what you're looking for, than I would suggest:
The Illustrated Signs and Symbols Sourcebook
It is very inclusive, you will find images such as the umbrella or the car, which takes it further than tradition.
But beware! This is NOT a book where you will read about the meaning of ouroboros, or the ankh, or the celtic cross, etc., etc. The word archetypal in the subtitle is of great importance. If this is what you're looking for, than I would suggest:
The Illustrated Signs and Symbols Sourcebook
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By jacketi
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wow, what an amazing book. The publishers succeed fully in collecting archetypal images, some ancient and some surprisingly modern, and guiding the reader on to further research through reference, poetry and art.
Some reviewers have criticized the small pictures and "insufficient" writing, but if the publishers had given us all the detail available the book would be so heavy you would have needed a trolley to carry it around and weight-lifter's arms just to open it. Plus which this is a book about symbols, which resonate on an unconscious level, so excess writing is not necessary.
A book to keep on your bedside table and randomly flick through before sleep, or to read from page one to the end. Can't recommend highly enough.
Some reviewers have criticized the small pictures and "insufficient" writing, but if the publishers had given us all the detail available the book would be so heavy you would have needed a trolley to carry it around and weight-lifter's arms just to open it. Plus which this is a book about symbols, which resonate on an unconscious level, so excess writing is not necessary.
A book to keep on your bedside table and randomly flick through before sleep, or to read from page one to the end. Can't recommend highly enough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
A great book to read while using the toilet...
The Book of Symbols may look impressive, but it lacks coherence, depth and scientific value. Don't judge it by it's cover!
Published 13 days ago by omer ender
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
a really great reference book -really well presented, detailed information, good pictures. This makes a great reference book for artists, writers and anyone else interested
Published 2 months ago by becca
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful book
Although it is not necessarily entirely comprehensive, this book is wonderful food for thought and full of fascinating insights. I love it.
Published 3 months ago by Laura Wells
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
This is an excellent reference book especially for students and lovers of art and architecture.
It's very valuable for understanding underlying meaning in symbols.
It's very valuable for understanding underlying meaning in symbols.
Published 3 months ago by Nick Panagiotopoulos
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Book of Symbols
This is a beautiful and well written book. It's a genuine pleasure to sit with this book, even for just a short period of time and look at the illustrations. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jane
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great reference
Smaller than I'd anticipated but it's a good looking museum in a book.
Excellent Picture choices and packed full of stuff for passing interest or serious research
Excellent Picture choices and packed full of stuff for passing interest or serious research
Published 4 months ago by Paul Bamford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and attractive book
The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images, is both well written and creatively illustrated. Read more
Published 12 months ago by winsome winnie
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing book
The book is well organised and has loads of colour illustrations. Of all my books this has to be the most sophisticated and interesting. Read more
Published 19 months ago by neama
5.0 out of 5 stars
hrenzen
This is a book to have at home. Just going through it, and looking the selected images is beautiful. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Hrenzen
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