Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By Kindle Edition
The Classic Guide, Updated for Our Contemporary World
A modern classic of Jungian psychology, The Hero Within has helped hundreds of thousands of people enrich their lives by revealing how to tap the power of the archetypes that exist within. Drawing from literature, anthropology, and psychology, author Carol S. Pearson clearly defines six heroic archetypes—the Innocent, the Orphan, the Wanderer, the Warrior, the Altruist, and the Magician—and shows how we can use these powerful guides to discover our own hidden gifts, solve difficult problems, and transform our lives with rich sources of inner strength.
This book will speak deeply to the evolving hero in all of us and reverberate through every part of our lives. With poignant wisdom and prolific examples, it gives us enduring tools to help us develop our own innate heroic gifts—the Orphan's resilience, the Wanderer's independence, the Warrior's courage, the Altruist's compassion, the Innocent's faith, and the Magician's abiding power.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperOne
- Publication dateAugust 13, 2013
- File size4.9 MB
Customers who bought this item also bought
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
The Classic Guide, Updated for Our Contemporary World
A modern classic of Jungian psychology, The Hero Within has helped hundreds of thousands of people enrich their lives by revealing how to tap the power of the archetypes that exist within. Drawing from literature, anthropology, and psychology, author Carol S. Pearson clearly defines six heroic archetypes—the Innocent, the Orphan, the Wanderer, the Warrior, the Altruist, and the Magician—and shows how we can use these powerful guides to discover our own hidden gifts, solve difficult problems, and transform our lives with rich sources of inner strength.
This book will speak deeply to the evolving hero in all of us and reverberate through every part of our lives. With poignant wisdom and prolific examples, it gives us enduring tools to help us develop our own innate heroic gifts—the Orphan's resilience, the Wanderer's independence, the Warrior's courage, the Altruist's compassion, the Innocent's faith, and the Magician's abiding power.
About the Author
Carol S. Pearson, Ph.D., is the Director of the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership and a Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Her publications include The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By Educating the Majority: Challenging Tradition in Higher Education, co-edited by Donna L. Shavlik and Judith G. Touchton); Awakening the Heroes Within: Twelve Archetypes that Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World; Magic At Work: Camelot, Creative Leadership and Everyday Miracles; The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands Through the Power of Archetypes, co-authored by Margaret Mark; Mapping the Organizational Psyche: A Jungian Theory of Organizational Dynamics and Change, co-authored by John Corlett; and What Story Are You Living? Co-authored by Hugh Marr. Her books are widely translated. She lives with her husband of 33 years close to her three married children and four grandchildren.
Product details
- ASIN : B00DTTEDLG
- Publisher : HarperOne; 3rd Revised ed. edition (August 13, 2013)
- Publication date : August 13, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 4.9 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 370 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #83,136 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #43 in Mate Seeking (Kindle Store)
- #72 in Interpersonal Relations (Kindle Store)
- #226 in Personal Transformation
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

About the Author
Carol S. Pearson, Ph.D., D.Min., is an internationally known authority on archetypes and their application to everyday life and work. Her early work in this field, upon which she has expanded over time, produced books and monographs that have helped people all over the world find their purpose and live more fulfilling and successful lives through increasing their archetypal narrative intelligence. Such books include The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By and Awakening the Heroes Within: Twelve Archetypes To Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World. Together with Hugh Marr, she also developed the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator™ (PMAI™), a tested instrument that helps individuals discover the archetypes that motivate them at a deep level, along with a supporting workbook, What Stories Are You Living? Discover Your Archetypes--Transform Your Life, that allows them to discover which of their active archetypes is a core archetype, which might be related to an area of unlived vitality, and which might cause them problems if they fail to connect with it. This system is also implicit in her mythology-based book Persephone Rising: Awakening the Heroine Within, written for both men and women.
Dr. Pearson’s more recent work helps individuals and leaders not only achieve personal success in their careers but also to develop workplaces that are healthier for employees and that enhance the ability of organizations to achieve their goals. Publications on this subject include The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands Through the Power of Archetypes (co-authored by Margaret Mark); Mapping the Organizational Psyche: A Jungian Theory of Organizational Dynamics and Change (co-authored by John Corlett); Magic at Work: Camelot, Creative Leadership, and Everyday Miracles (with Sharon Seivert), and The Transforming Leader: New Approaches to Leadership for the Twenty-First Century (ed.), which grew out of a three-year project with the Fetzer Institute that she co-led. As part of that project, she also wrote a pamphlet that uses an archetypal analysis to help readers understand contemporary American culture: Maturing the American Dream: Archetypal American Narratives Meet the Twenty-First Century. In addition, she developed the Organizational and Team Culture Indicator™ (OTCI™), a tested instrument that identifies archetypes in organizational cultures. The OTCI was acquired by Kenexa, a global human resources firm, in 2008 and was renamed the Kenexa Cultural Insight Survey™ (KCI™). It is used for internal branding and to enhance employee satisfaction, effectiveness, and retention.
Many of Dr. Pearson’s publications are available in a growing number of foreign languages and in e-book as well as print form.
A respected scholar and higher education administrator, Dr. Pearson served most recently as Executive Vice President/Provost and then President of Pacifica Graduate Institute. Previously, she was Professor of Leadership Studies in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland and the Director of the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership. During her tenure, the Academy was the incubator of the International Leadership Association (ILA), and Dr. Pearson was a member of ILA’s Board of Directors. Currently, she is an author and educator in private practice.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides insightful advice on self-knowledge and improving one's life. They appreciate the author's witty, thoughtful writing style that is accessible for all ages. The book offers valuable guidance on understanding oneself and life experiences.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book provides insightful guidance on self-knowledge and life improvement. It helps them understand their lives and the meaning of experiences. They describe it as witty, thoughtful, and filled with wisdom. The book offers an interesting blend of Jungian psychology and cultural anthropology based on Joseph Campbell's work.
"...She does this by identifying the archetypal stages of development that we all go through, and illuminates the tasks that must be mastered in order..." Read more
"...I can understand myself and others with a clearer conscience because of this book. The author is witty, thoughtful, and filled with so much wisdom...." Read more
"...No inner distress at all from being Selves...." Read more
"This book breaks down people’s perspective that are attached with an archetype...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's witty writing style. They find it informative and accessible for all ages. The author is thoughtful and has wisdom to share.
"...The author is witty, thoughtful, and filled with so much wisdom. Excellent read. This book will reside amongst my favorite reads!" Read more
"...this struggle that we all go through and this is a great way to put that struggle into words...." Read more
"Fun read. Quite informative. Writer has a wonder approach that's accessible to all ages. A focus on Jungian motifs but with a woman's touch." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2017In her widely-acclaimed book, The Hero Within, Carol Pearson reminds the reader of the ways in which we can be heroic in our daily lives. She does this by identifying the archetypal stages of development that we all go through, and illuminates the tasks that must be mastered in order to successfully move on to the next stage. She offers a clear description of each of these stages: Innocent, Orphan, Wanderer, Warrior, Martyr, and Magician, and provides great insight into the ways that we can all meet the challenge of fulfilling their requirements with skill and courage. In successfully meeting these challenges we develop inner strengths and virtues that last a lifetime. I have personally benefited greatly from reading this book and other books by Carol Pearson and I highly recommend it! - Linda Bloom Co-Author of 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married, Secrets of Great Relationships, and Happily Ever After... and 39 Myths about Love.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2013This book in essence for me was a life changer. Friends of mine recommended the book to me. I was somewhat skeptical of the concepts when one of them kept repeating "we're magicians, we're magicians!" I said to myself "witchcraft?!" oh nah this book is not for me. I stand corrected, this book is for EVERYONE! I could not stop myself from turning the next page. Each page revealed another secret behind the human psyche and all the potential we possess if we listen to our archetypes and the experiences that we face throughout our lives. I can understand myself and others with a clearer conscience because of this book. The author is witty, thoughtful, and filled with so much wisdom. Excellent read. This book will reside amongst my favorite reads!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2019The so-called Archetypes are no more. As the poets might put it, they've long since fled, leaving a vacuum in the psyche that nothing can fill.
What is left isn't to be considered an Arche-Type at all, not a primal, original influence.
What's left is a husk or zombie. We've been so outer-directed and anti-psychological for so long, it's a case of Elvis has long left the building.
This book is addressed, therefore, to no one in particular. Certainly no one in the US. No one has ever done any Shadow Work, and no one intends to. Too busy shopping, brawling and voting for the new boss-man offering chains of gold.
Big Pharma knows this all too well, and supplies the Happy Pills for those wishing to simply anesthetize hurt and anger. No Shadow Work involved. No Shadow Work in sight. We're not only in an anti-psychological age, we are in a non-psychological age. We have the word, and little else.
Socialism spreads its poison, and the world objects to any kind of heroism except that of the Mob. The individual is nixed and his ways null and void. There is no psychology of the Individual, only of the Crowd. We have the Will to Negation, not the Will to Meaning directed by any wholesome Jungian archetypes.
Now that the Shadow and the rest of the archetypes have been uninstalled and simulated by the artificial society - purchasable in the toddlers section of Toys R Us - we have our satori. No inner distress at all from being Selves. The ego is cut free to be one with the cosmos, to inflate itself to epic proportions and dictate what's right for the world. Hence the rise of Socialism in America. Hence the political histrionics of the "Emancipated." Yawn.
Now that the psyche itself has been voided, we can now merrily get on with disingenuous chit-chat ABOUT psychological themes.
"I tried that having a psyche thing, and didn't like it." And now that the corpse is dead and buried, we can cover the crime by TALKING about it. We can throw up Carol Pearson, Debbie Ford, Caroline Myss, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra and Oprah to pontificate on it from morning till night.
And we'll go for it. self-deception being the rule and order of the day. We must maintain the window-dressing. Hail Dr. Phil.
It all falls down once we remember - the word is definitely NOT the thing.
As Jung himself predicted, what we've got is absurdity from those who'll do anything to avoid facing their souls. Religion once offered the means of doing this, and now we've got psychiatry and neo-Jungians who've completely missed the plot, acting as apologists for the necrophilous society rather than as its severest critics.
Sadly, although this book is worth reading, it's endless politically-correct anecdotes reveal the author to be herself deeply neurotic. She's obviously the victim of negative Shadow and Animus projections, or in her own profiling model, she's possessed by Orphan and Altruist archetypes (parodies of them that is).
The genuine archetypes have long fled the scene. But as Nietzsche said, we're left worshiping the serpents in the ruins and ashes of the cathedrals and temples that once stood high and strong.
*** *** ***
- Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2020This book breaks down people’s perspective that are attached with an archetype. It breaks out from minute details to look at people’s strengths and weaknesses as a whole. These are not viewed as judgement but as areas for growth or developing strength. It’s a treasure of clarity and simplicity.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2013To look inside oneself and relate your own experience with the 6 archetypes described in this brilliant book is gift. It heps you understand your moves in life, the meaning of the experiences we get through and the ways in which we can grow and mature in order to finally meet our real SELF who is our hero within. Not to miss for people searching inside.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2020Make sure you do not let you mind wide open and let anything into you mind. Judge what you accept and read because you do not know if someone is trying to persuade you in some manner, whether they do it accidentally or purposefully. Carol is a far leftist and it is apparent in many sentences which she gives within the first chapter and introduction. Here are some examples
Page 30 " This can be particularly annoying if you are a woman or a man of color and the boss is male and white. It will feel like racism or sexism (which to a lesser or greater degree it is)."
Page 11 "Women and people of color are often actively discouraged from seeing themselves in a heroic light." There is no evidence for that but being a far-leftist Carol does not care.
Page 8 "why woman and racial minorities must work so hard to rid themselves of internalized sexist and racist attitudes"
Now I've already highlighted some things but if the rest of the book is like the beginning, and she drags on a lot, I will probably stop reading and suggest a different book.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2014This book I read in a day and re-read 2 days later. I told my sisters and friends about it. Sometimes things need to be put in simple terms even for us adults, to better understand who we are, what stages we are in, how to move out of in and out of these archetype stages to be better human beings. Not just for ourselves, but for the people we love. Get this book!
Top reviews from other countries
- SandyReviewed in Canada on June 27, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing: From a survivor of much childhood trauma.
Best self help book for someone who had childhood trauma. Not for the faint of heart. Be prepared to cry and feel angry. Then enjoy life as it should be.
-
SuryaReviewed in Mexico on November 29, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars Material corriente
Bien. Solo la pasta se hace rollo!!! Material corriente
- SaxejazzReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Deep insights, easy to read.
A real eye-opener. This book change how I see myself in different situations and change my response to improve my engagement.
-
Igor MoraisReviewed in Brazil on September 19, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Facil Leitura e contem exercícios
Livro prático de psicologia junguiana e de difícil disponibilidade em português. Texto fluido, aborda alguns perfis arquetípicos trazendo histórias para contexto e soluções de cada jornada. Excelente livro para autoconhecimento, para trabalhos que envolvam montagem de times multifuncionais, administração de conflitos e para aqueles que queiram aplicar seu conteúdo em branding e segmentação de marketing. Recomendo.
-
Fuchs Werner T. DrReviewed in Germany on December 23, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Auf Deutsch leider vergriffen
Beim Erscheinen der Erstauflage im Jahre 1986 konnte Carol S. Pearson nicht wissen, dass ihr Buch fast dreißig Jahre später noch immer ein großes Publikum anziehen wird. Und natürlich hatte sie damals auch keine Ahnung, auf welchen Gebieten sich ihre Helden tummeln werden. Und die Wahrscheinlichkeit ist groß, dass unter der Überschrift „Uses of this Book“ bei einer weiteren Auflage auch der Begriff „Storytelling“ auftauchen wird. Denn schließlich gehören stimmige Charaktersierungen von Helden zum Handwerk eines guten Geschichtenerzählers.
Verfasst wurde das Buch in erster Linie für Leser, die sich selber besser kennenlernen möchten, um ihr Leben gezielter anzugehen. Doch schon bald zeigten auch Eltern, Psychotherapeuten, Lehrer, Berater, Trainer und Organisationen der verschiedensten Art Interesse an Pearsons Ansatz, das Konzept der Jung’schen Archetypen zeitgemäß zu interpretieren. Denn Drachen gibt es in jeder Form und überall. Und ob man Probleme lösen kann, ist nicht nur eine Frage der richtigen Waffen oder Strategien, sondern hängt auch wesentlich von der Selbsteinschätzung derer ab, die gewillt sind, den Kampf gegen den Drachen aufzunehmen.
Was Carol S. Pearson unter der Überschrift „Anti-Heroic Culturale Forces“ schreibt, ist seit einigen Jahren wieder aktuell. Aber nach wie vor gilt, dass man besser die Hände von diesem Buch lässt, wenn man die Meinung vertritt, dieser Archetypus sei überholt oder eine unstatthafte Vereinfachung komplexer Verhaltensmuster. Jedenfalls teile ich die Meinung der Autorin, dass die meisten von uns „Sklaven der Geschichten sind, die wir uns unbewusst über unser Leben erzählen. Und Frieden kann erst in dem Moment beginnen, in dem wir uns der Handlungen bewusst werden, die unser Leben bestimmen. Dazu soll dieses Buch eine Hilfe sein.
Auf Seite erhält der Leser eine erste Übersicht, mit welchen Archetypen er es zu tun haben wird. Es sind dies: Orphan, Wanderer, Warrior, Altruist, Innocent und Magician. Folgerichtig stehen auf der Landkarte dann: Choosing Freedom, Surviving Difficulties, Finding Yourself, Proving Worth, Showing Generositiy, Achieving Happiness und Transforming Your Life.
Im zweiten Teil „Personal Mastery: The Guidebook“ geht es um die Entwicklung der inneren Ressourcen. Das zeigen auch die folgenden Überschriften der Kapitel: Honoring Your Life: The Route, Troubleshooting When You Get Lost or Stuck: The Compass, The Ethics of the Journey: The Code.
Der Anhang mit Tests, Guidelines und den Umfeldern der sechs Archetypen umfasst knapp vierzig Seiten und ist in vier Teile gegliedert. Der Appendix D ist Fortgeschrittene oder Neugierige gedacht, die mit zwölf Typen spielen wollen. Und ganz zum Schluss findet sich eine Literarturliste, die leider keine Titel aufführt, die nach 1996 erschienen sind.
Mein Fazit: Man kann von Typisierungen halten, was man will, spielerisch angewendet können sie eine Große Hilfe sein. Carol S. Pearson wählt den richtigen Ton zwischen Glaubensbekenntnis, psychologischer Fachsprache und Formulierungen des gesunden Menschenverstandes. Zudem schreibt sie ein Englisch, das sich auch mit einem Sprachschatz entschlüsseln lässt, den Shakespeare wahrscheinlich schon in der Pubertät verwendete.