The Power of Myth

Filled to The Brim with Meaningful Information

It is captivating and understandable; anyone can explore and understand the concepts and themes. The Power of Myth encompasses so many themes relating to mythology. The book is brimming with in depth information, from reoccurring symbols like the serpent, the hero's journey that crops up in almost every story ever told, to the driving force of mythology and religion. This book is a complete guide to myths and their importance.
I really enjoyed the way Dr. Campbell intertwined the myths and religious stories from across the world and applied them to the way we live life. The reader also glimpses more details different religions, as Dr. Campbell occasionally tells stories from many different cultures and religions through the world and highlights similarities of these religions. To me this made the themes a lot richer and significant. Dr. Campbell also made them relevant; Star Wars even made its way into the conversation as an example of how the themes in myths aren't mythical.
This book is definitely interesting, but it's not a page turner. I found that I couldn't sit and read it for any long periods of time. This book is not for you if you lack patience or if you looking for a fast and effortless read. However, it is a worthwhile read and if you interested in the way myths are shaped and how they shape our life, or even just religion, definitely read this book, check out the DVD series, or one of Dr. Campbell's other works such as The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The Power of Myth was an incredibly meaningful and enlightening book and I strongly recommend it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

ESSENTIAL for writers of fiction!

I really love this book, and am glad they kept it in interview format so as not to miss a single, well-placed word! Joseph Campbell really got it right, and Bill Moyers asks all the imperative questions. A perfect guide to proper mythology, both modern and ancient; essential for creators of fiction, and students of life! Thought-provoking and compelling.. Timeless and pertinent... Thrilling and intense... A truly great read, and very educational. EVERYONE should read this book! (Or watch the DVD!)

Regarding my recommendations:
I understand that they may have seemingly little relation to PoM, but, they're all essential to me in regards to understanding the universe, and how we fit into it. Enjoy!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

If you have the courage to read this> You will find many keys to different doors to endless possiblities..

This book is amazing.I have seen the dvd with the conversation with Bill Moyers.And i cannot tell you how much i have learnt about myself and about the world we live in.This is a must read for anyone willing to take that huge leap to discover oneself.It is often the road that few dare to take..discovering our true self and loving what is..Many things will be revealed to you about your own destiny and part that you play in this world. You will have a greater appreciation for all things great and small.We are all from the same tree> you and i are one>When you hurt me you hurt yourself.This all makes sense. I have found myself..and i am loving every moment that i am alive.Oh, what a gift to behold!!!!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

An Influential Read

Ever wondered why a serpent is a common theme in mythological literature, as well as religious tales? Or perhaps the real question is why characters in fiction seem to go through the same steps before the end of the story? In Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth, all questions about symbolism in mythology are addressed and answered, including how mythology aids daily life today.
Many different aspects of myth are explored throughout the pages. Campbell goes into detail with where mythology is placed in today's society, the stories of different beliefs, the history of the hero's journey with fictional literature, as well as how people use myths in their everyday lives. Not a single topic under the general category of the influences myth has is missed.
This book was well-liked for various reasons. The interview format doesn't skip a single word, so the information presented is very detailed and in-depth. This work is helpful if the reader would like to learn more about the symbolism behind stories involved with religions and literature, and it helps the reader to understand and appreciate the meaning and importance of those myths. The relationships between mythology and life today are recognized, as well as how important those connections are. Campbell also explains how the myths of different cultures and religions relate to each other, so to understand that everyone learns very similar stories about rites of passage and growing up, no matter what beliefs they grew up around. This connection is meaningful to those who want to understand more about religions and how they intertwine with one another. Myth is also shown to be extremely helpful in modern lives today, to help us live through obstacles. Mythology is displayed as a useful guide in life throughout many different cultures.
However, the book also had its downfalls. This would not be the best choice for a reader who would rather keep the symbols and structures of myth a mystery to them so they can infer that information for themselves. Also, if the reader would rather read a story or something with a plot, this is not the book for them. This book merely explains those plots of other myths, which is no simple feat either. This book was written to inform rather than for pleasure reading, but it is an excellent book to have on the shelf for reference.
Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth was a powerful read and will most likely be read again. I'd give this non-fiction novel four stars out of five, and five stars for how meaningful and educational it was.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Expand your Knowledge of Myths and how they affect everyday life

This book is written in interview style.The questions are good and the answers are fantastic. We can all learn a lot from Myths... great book if you want to expand your knowledge.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Thought Provoking and Inspiring

I have read The Power of Myth over and over after seeing the PBS special with Bill Moyer. Joseph Campbell's teachings through all of his books has open my mind to a greater understand of mythology rituals and how they are lost. I now understand James Joyce and Homer. A must read for any person seeking a greater understand of self and the universe. My literature experience has never been the same.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Reading on a desert island

If i could choose only a dozen books to be stranded on a desert island with, this would be one of them. the most intelligent, concise, comprehensive and enjoyable (colorfully pictured) treatise on belief systems on the planet!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Once more, Read it! A. R. Dabek "Bully"

Thank you for power of myth! As i write, even in the EU "Bully" is big, Andrew Robert Dabek a bully but only to old & weak. Those with the "Power" of myth the bully fears, cry baby cry! andy w/ S.S. #357-66-0559 WIMP ANDY! WE ARE SO SORRY FOR YOU BULLY Word is out at UCSB myth topples baby bully! Just have them cut off now! End it, we did and thank you Dr. Campbell myth go figure? You have ended yourself, Ah!

Fascinating and Informational read

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell is a fascinating and informative read. This book is an interview between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers, so needless to say it can be dry and uninteresting at times. Most of the time however, it is very fascinating and causes a lot of thought about modern cultures relation to ancient myths from all over. Before reading this novel I was unaware of how much mythology influenced cultures all over the world even today. Campbell included information and basic myths from all types of cultures and proceed to explain how they influenced the world today. Another interesting thing to be learned from this book is that all myths will share similar themes weather they come from North America, Africa, or East Asia. The basic myths that appear in every culture demonstrate that people all over the world are essentially the same. To benefit from this book all that will be necessary is the will to think about all the different cultures and beliefs that inevitably sculpt today modern world. If while reading, one has an open mind to the maters being discussed it will be easier to comprehend all the myths being discussed. In a book such as this comprehension is a needed first step to finding enjoyment. Although at times The Power of Myth may prove to be uninteresting over all it is one of the most interesting, and enjoyable works of literature I have ever read. It can become uninteresting when Moyers and Campbell go into an excruciating amount of detail on one subject which would be better left at one paragraph tops. Taking the time to read this fascinating book proves to be inevitably worth it in every way imaginable. It is very informative and causes a great deal of thought on the mythological realm that is often ignored in American society.

Overly Complex and Obnoxiously Scattered

Don't be fooled by the word "myth". When one hears that word, I automatically thought of Ancient Greek Mythology. No, this book tells nothing about Ancient Greek Mythology. Personally, I don't think that "myth" has been used appropriately, because when I think myth, I don't think Christianity, Bhuddism, or any such religious stuff, which is actually what the book is about. Basically, the 2 authors, Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell have a conversation - yes this book is completely the dialogue of a conversation between them - about the different ways that people of old and some people today have experienced their religions.
Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't opposed to this at all. Actually, I thought it would be interesting to get a new viewpoint on religion. However, the authors just took the analyzation too far and were completely random! I mean, one section would say that they were discussing the Goddess in the polytheist religions, but really they would go off about how in some cultures boys became men through obnoxious rituals - or something of the sort. It was very scattered, therefore it was quite a bit more difficult to read.
Being someone who does read a lot of older books with far more complex words and ways of speaking, I was capable of reading this book. But I would never recommend this book to a person who isn't a strong reader with a large vocabulary. I would also not recommend this book to someone who has a short attention span, because even with a good long attention span, one can find it easy to become distracted by a lot of things while reading this book; I know I did.
It's not that it was a bad book with completely horrible ideas. There were quite a few statements in the book that totally made sense and were, in my opinion, quite correct! But there were also a lot of statements that I found entirely rediculous and obnoxious. Not only that, but they tended to contradict many other ideas within the book. These statements made me enjoy the book a lot less simply because I'm strongly opinionated. Not to mention this was a Non-Fic book, and I really prefer Fiction books; they're so much more excititng!
So don't read this if you are strongly opinionated, prefer Fiction and excitement - because it was a really dry book - and if you were expecting it to be about and tell the myths about battles and gods and goddesses. Just . don't read it. You'll be so brain-dead by the end of it that even those interesting tid-bits will be lost to you.

0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Dr. Jos. Campbell was Amazing in Understanding Mythology

Dr, Jos.Campbell was The most popular PhD.@Smith when still all women. I would have loved to audit his course on Mythology.This book is a delight and savored for days/nights just like these.Cold and nothing on 500 channels?You will understand more than When You Were in College/University. Insightfull and pares down to a true level of the everyday abilities of Mythology. I passed my course,but this is a great way to 'catch up' on those tiresome all~nighters to get through exam.I have one quibble w/ Dr. J. Campbell;his belief we are the same as people in Middle Ages! So, since we all have individual finger prints, why are we doomed to be the same? Still a wonderfull book.To be honest, I flunked my exam and took my course again w/ a well deserved A.Long nights and osmosis helped!This will be The Book to save injury to Psyche.

A reviewer

I recently revisited this title and on the third read I still find it powerful, amazing and full of so much truth. It is both facinating as a reader of fiction and as a man of the world and of life. It takes so much of what we know and don't thinkof in terms of life and myth and how stories are all unique and at the same time all the same and reflections of who we are as people in the world. I recommended this title highly to anyone who has the opportunity to read it.

we are the same,so let's love each other

Campbell showed that how we are the stems of the same plant.each has its own shape,but some thing inseperatable.the root is invisible,but undeniable,too.

Absolutely Excellent

Wow! The only thing better was actually watching the series on PBS. Campbell's stories are mesmerizing. The breadth and depth of his knowledge are very evident in the book. He speaks on numerous topics and brings together a vast array of different ideas and references. This would come with my highest possible recommendation!! If you can afford the videotapes those are even better!!

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