On July 26, Chiron Publications will release what may be considered one of the most intimate and significant additions to the Jung canon in recent years: The Last Lectures: C.G. Jung, 1958. This remarkable volume represents a precious archaeological discovery in Jungian scholarship—the first English publication of transcripts from Jung’s informal talks at the C.G. Jung Institute Zurich, delivered just three years before his death in 1961.
The historical significance of these recordings cannot be overstated. In 1958, an aging Jung sat with students and followers, offering what the publishers aptly describe as “some of his final instructions on working with patients in analysis.” Here we find the master looking back over the vast psychological landscape he had spent decades exploring and charting, sharing not just theoretical insights but practical wisdom gleaned from a lifetime of therapeutic practice.
What makes this volume particularly compelling is its conversational intimacy. Unlike Jung’s more formal written works, these transcripts preserve the spontaneous, spirited quality of his spoken voice as he responded to questions from an international audience. The publishers have maintained the documentary character of the original recordings, preserving the natural rhythms and characteristics of spoken language while making modest editorial improvements for clarity.
The content spans both the major themes that defined Jung’s work and the practical aspects of therapeutic treatment—a combination that makes this volume invaluable for both scholars and practicing analysts. Jung addressed questions in both German and English, reflecting the international scope of his influence and the universal applicability of his insights.
Perhaps most remarkably, these talks offer us Jung in his most accessible mode: relaxed, conversational, and generous with his knowledge. The publishers note the “very spirited and articulate insight” these recordings provide into Jung’s teaching and thinking, giving us a window into how the founder of analytical psychology conveyed his ideas in face-to-face teaching.
For the contemporary Jungian community, The Last Lectures represents more than just another publication—it’s a direct transmission from Jung himself, captured in the twilight of his career when his understanding had reached its fullest maturity. As we continue to grapple with the practical applications of Jungian theory in our modern therapeutic landscape, these final instructions offer both historical grounding and timeless wisdom.
The book is available for pre-order now, with release scheduled for July 26. For those who have long wondered what it might have been like to sit in Jung’s presence and learn directly from the source, this volume offers the closest approximation we may ever have to that experience.
You can watch the talks, with improved audio quality, by clicking here.