The Swiss psychologist shares the visions, inner experiences, and dreams that have shaped his work and thought. In the spring of 1957 when he was 81 years old, Jung undertook the telling of his life story. At regular intervals he had conversations with his colleague and friend Aniela Jaffe, and collaborated with her in the preparation of the text based on these talks.

On occasion he was moved to write entire chapters of the book in his own handwriting, and he continued to work on the final stages of the manuscript until shortly before his death on June 6, 1961.