In this profound inquiry, psychologist James Hillman delves into war as an enduring facet of the human psyche. Across 5,600 years and 14,600 recorded conflicts, he examines how warfare shapes our identities, collective imagination and daily life.

Hillman investigates fundamental questions around our primal attraction to war: the need for enemies, the psychological scars on combatants, and the paradox of seeking peace amid a constant readiness for conflict.

• Is war a necessary expression of the human soul?
• Why do we create and fear enemies?
• How does warfare alter individual and collective psyche?
• Can the impulse for violence be understood and tamed?

Hillman’s vivid examples and insightful commentary invite readers to reconsider conventional views of war. By mapping the emotional, cultural and psychic dimensions of conflict, this work offers a nuanced framework for understanding violence and imagining alternative paths.

Rooted in scholarly research and enriched by mythic and historical perspectives, A Terrible Love of War equips readers with a deeper awareness of the impulses that drive conflict. Hillman’s thought-provoking analysis encourages a more compassionate and reflective approach to peace and human relationships.

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