As the plans around my new book's release continue to unfold, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the resources I used in my research. Weird Wisdom for the Second Half of Life focuses on the inner journey that we all go through. In the book, I explore the wisdom of depth psychology, ancient folklore, world religions & mythology, and many stories of people discovering how wisdom improved their second act. While the book's bibliography lists nearly 100 different resources, I highlight these five.

Dreaming in the World’s Religions: A Comparative History by Kelly Bulkeley. Oh my, I love this book, though I will confess, I've not read it cover to cover. It's a massive overview of dreams in all world religions. Bulkeley traces back the history of dreams through the major religions from very early human civilizations through the world's five major religions. It is complete with examples and references. His description of dreams as the possible foundation for religion in human culture is astounding.

Win the Retirement Game by Joe Casey – As I near retirement, I've been consuming a wide variety of books on retirement. This one is among the most readable as it explores the non-financial side of retirement. Using a fictional character named Pete, a composite of many of Joe's coaching clients, we discover many challenges and opportunities for people, particularly men, as they navigate retirement. Many of the themes in this book parallel my research on the shifts we make in the second half of life. Casey describes nine obstacles people face as they move into retirement. They include cultivating curiosity, enhancing social connectivity, and unleashing creativity, just to name a few that resonate with the themes of my book. Of the five books I'm listing here, this one is the most accessible.

Inner Work by Robert A Johnson – When people ask me to recommend a book on dreams, this is the one. Johnson writes with clarity, unlike anyone else in the field of Depth Psychology. His books are often brief and filled with ancient and contemporary stories. His background as a monk, a student of Krishnamurti, and his training as a Jungian Analyst all come together in this profound yet practical little book.

The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife by James Hollis – If you are a fan of the TV series Ted Lasso, you might notice that in season 2, episode 8, Ted picks this book off a coffee table at Dr. Sharon's house. This book is considered a classic in the field, and even though it was published in 1993, it continues to be read and recommended thirty years later. Hollis describes the Middle Passage as an occasion for redefining and reorienting the personality, a rite of passage between the extended adolescence of first adulthood and our inevitable appointment with old age and mortality. The book is foundational for anyone exploring the second half of life. As a Jungian analyst, Hollis presents case studies that bring somewhat complex ideas to life.

Women’s Faith Development: Patterns and Processes by Nicola Slee – This is the most academic book of the five, but I bring it here because of the significant impact it had on my thinking. Slee is a professor in the Netherlands who has been largely critical of the Stages of Faith Development theories authored by James Fowler in the early 1980s. After reading the book, I found Slee appreciative of Fowler but building on his work rather than simply criticizing it. In my view, the essential part of her work is describing the fluidity and nuance of faith development as opposed to the rigidly fixed categories. Slee follows a long line of women scholars like Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings, who were pioneers in revising theories to include women's experiences and perspectives. It's a readable text but more academically oriented than the others listed here.

Weird wisdom has a lot of Carl Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz as well, but the above books hint at the variety of resources employed. The book is currently with the publisher, and we will likely have a late April 2023 release date. More on that later.