The Force of Character and the Lasting Life
by James HillmanAVAILABILITY: Readily available
Publication Date: July 2000
Publisher: Ballantine
Binding: Paperback
Topics: CHARACTER
Condition: Special Sale
Description: One copy left at this price.
'The Force of Character' presents a new thesis: the changes of old age, even the debilitating ones, have purposes and values organized by the psyche. Memory for recent events may falter, offering more place for long-term recollections. A heart condition in later life brings an opportunity to remove blockages from constricted relationships, while changes in sleep patterns allow the old to experience the profound elements of nighttime that we usually overlook. As Hillman says, 'Aging makes metaphors of biology.'' James Hillman resurrects the ancient, widespread, and socially effective idea of the old person as 'ancestor,' a model for the young, the bearer of a society's cultural memory and traditions.
Review(s): "Marvelous ... For a book about longevity, 'The Force of Character' is just about perfect, not only for the wisdom of its content but also for its tone and pace." - San Francisco Chronicle
"This is a book that will comfort someone afraid of getting old. Its gentle messages shine through." - Los Angeles Times
"Provocative ... Hillman breathes new life into a venerable concept, and in so doing helps us to rediscover the soulful possibilities of aging." - Publishers Weekly