The Tao of Elvis (PDF)

The Inner Man vs The Mythical King

With a scholar's mind and an Elvis-fan's heart, eminent psychiatrist and Jungian analyst Dr David H. Rosen illuminates both the inner Elvis and the myth of Elvis in popular culture.

An inspirational, perceptive, personal and truly innovative exploration of Elvis, a rock and roll idol who was a deeply spiritual being, well beyond his well-known gospel and blues singing.

The Tao of Elvis includes essays by two New York Times Best-Selling Authors:

Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life, contributes a foreword in which he asks pivotal questions about the parallel destinies of Elvis and America.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, has contributed a free-wheeling afterword passionately expressing how Elvis's "beautiful flame of life" rocked the post-war world, and rocks her still.

Forty-two chapters representing the forty-two years of Elvis's life contain perceptive and inspiring quotations from the world's most perceptive thinkers, as well as from the people who knew Elvis best.

In a most readable fashion, Rosen unites the varied voices into each chapter's theme:
Tao
Opposites
Child
Mother
Father
Family and Friends
Spirit, Soul, and Religion
Love
Music and Song
Grace and Gentleness
Darkness, Sorrow, and Sadness
Light, Fire and Passion
Dreams
Giving and Generosity
Alone and Loneliness
Twinning and Pairing
Man of Tao
Innocence and Play
Knowledge and Wisdom
Image (Persona and Shadow)
Truth and Truth of Character
Happiness and Joy
Virtue
Beauty
Nature and Water
Work (Business)
Transcendence and Transformation
Success and Failure
Home (Graceland)
King
Pain and Suffering
Harmony and Balance
Prisoner and Freedom
Destiny
Meditation and Health
Madness and Illness
Compassion and Forgiveness
Mirror
Purpose and Meaning
Prayer and Sacrifice
Death and Rebirth
Spiritual Wholeness

The Tao of Elvis is fully illustrated with Chinese papercut-inspired artwork by Diane Katz and includes a the artist's annotations for each chapter, and thorough Notes and Bibliography.