Midlife Crisis Psychology: A summary of The Middle Passage by James Hollis

One of the most influential books on the mid-life crisis, and the broader topic of adult self-development is The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife, by Dr. James Hollis.

A Jungian psychologist, Dr. Hollis integrates and builds upon many of the teachings of 20th century Psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, or C.G. Jung, and his work on the shadow self and unconsciousness.

In The Middle Passage (Dr. Hollis’s reframed term for the midlife crisis), Dr. Hollis not only examines the causal factors and consequences of the mid-life crisis, but also offers ample insight into how to navigate the mid-life crisis, while providing a wealth of encouragement for anyone going through a mid-life (or other life stage) crisis.

This essay offers my own paraphrased interpretation of the key takeaways, along with direct quotes and questions raised drawn from Dr. Hollis’s seminal book on deriving meaning and answers from the mid-life crisis.

Part 2 will be a deep dive into the main themes raised throughout the book.

Key Takeaways

“The experience of the middle passage is not unlike awakening to find that one is alone one a pitching ship, with…