The Power of Myth,   ISBN:9780385418867

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This piece of literary treasure is a launching pad for all of Joseph Campbell's groundbreaking philosophical and anthropological work. First of all a myth is not a lie; rather it is a way for explaining life through symbols and stories. There are basic mythologies that are similar in every civilization - even ones - that have no history or chance of being connected. The Virgin Birth, Puberty, and Death. In some special civilizations there is a fourth - the Wise Man - loosely defined as someone of middle age, who can see their life as a book, with chapters sure to be added, but with an epilogue pretty much written in stone.

The book takes no position, or more preciously is agnostic, to organized religions. Campbell opines that we evolved into a superior species because we recognized that there was a God and the only way to explain this myth is that God is literally and philosophically in our genes. In this way he is probably more aligned to an Eastern way of thinking of religion than a Western One. As I am a Roman Catholic, he does not attack or defend the "Church". Counter-intuitively he explains why this religion lost its way after Vatican II. The Priest having his back to the clergy, the candles and incense, the communal kneeling in groups for communion, the use of Latin, the organs and bells, and formal clothing gave us a powerful transcendental experience that is only vaguely replicated in Christmas Midnight Mass.

If you have one book to give to your children this should be the one.

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Interestingly I read this book after reading Carl Rogers's On becoming a Person, and W.H.D. Rouse's Gods, Heroes and Men of Ancient Greece. I remember watching the PBS series with Bill Moyers a long time ago and how I was so moved by the intelligent and graceful way the interview was conducted by these enormously intellectual individuals. I feel very sad about our current trend of barking talk radio hosts that are popular, spreading non-sensical hateful agendas. This book is full of wisdom that I think addresses all the fundamental questions of our existence in the universe, and provides tools to use to experience life in a meaningful, harmonious way in our very disjointed society. Through the timeless stories of the world, life, death, suffering, love, bliss and nature all make a big circle, and we participate in it in eternity. Myths bring us from all the technical, petty and dogmatic distractions back to the fundamental experiences of living as part of the bigger and timeless universe. I enjoyed this book tremendously and I miss Mr. Joseph Campbell.

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At one of the most conservative universities on the planet, Brigham Young University, I was first introduced to Joseph Campbell through a wonderful (and in hindsight, courageous) pair of Honors History instructors that elected to teach history of the world through the cultures and myths of their traditions. It was by far the best class I took while there. I just completed another read of this work and, although the structure is conversational and disjointed in places, was reminded how dramatically Joseph Campbell's work saved my life and faith from my own mind's attacks of reason and irrational rationalism. No, I do not accept everything taught by my chosen faith, just as I find aspects of science and other traditions equally difficult to accept. Campbell's research shows how deeply important to our own mind, heart, and world these deep seated traditions are, and what just might be wrong with dogma and societal interpretations of once pure ideas adapted for less than altruistic intentions. Understanding Campbell allows me to quietly synthesize the best of my core tradition with inherent truths of others as well as fully embracing science and empiricism. Looking at all belief systems both as possibly literal and always possibly metaphorical opens up child-hood teachings with new insight and potential. I find I am a child of God, a child of Mother Nature, and as such carry the stuff of both in me. Read this and believe, no matter your path, not just for yourself, but all those in need of compassion around you.

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This should be required reading for anyone with a sense of wonder in themselves and the world around them. Paul Moyers insightful and open ended conversation questions with Joseph Campbell are fascinating and open an eye into a whole new way of looking at the world. This is a book that, everytime it's re-read provides something new. Campbell is a great storyteller and a teacher who makes his topic soar.
The DVD series is the same content, but even better in that you get to hear and see Campbell speak.

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A great, easy to read, book about a complex topic--myth. I adopted it for a college course I teach.