"Liber Novus", also known as the "Red Book", is an extraordinary manuscript meticulously crafted by the renowned psychologist and philosopher Carl Gustav Jung between 1914 and 1930. This profound work, which was kept away from the public eye for decades due to opposition from Jung's relatives, finally saw the light of day in 2001 when researchers were finally granted access to its profound contents. Within its pages, Jung delves into the depths of his mind and shares his thoughts and revelations during the crucial period of his development of groundbreaking concepts such as archetypes and the collective unconscious. These concepts, which form the very foundations of human psychology and are intertwined with language, universal symbols, and myths, are unveiled in this remarkable book.
Through an intense process of self-analysis, Jung masterfully employs psychotherapy as a tool for self-understanding, providing readers with an intimate and unfiltered glimpse into his innermost thoughts and emotions. With minimal censorship, Jung fearlessly explores his own inner life, offering a candid and authentic portrayal. The "Red Book" stands as a paramount milestone in Jung's extensive body of work, as esteemed scholar Shamdasani asserts. Moreover, it presents Jung's followers with boundless opportunities to delve into the enigmatic texts within, sparking profound reflections on their meaning and placing them within the broader intellectual and biographical contexts of Jung's life.
It is important to note that Jung himself, in an unfinished afterword to an incomplete book initiated in 1959, cautions that the contents of the "Red Book" may appear bewildering or nonsensical to the casual reader.