Reflections on the Art of Living (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)

This is a condensed Campbell reader with insight for everyone in a philosophical mood. I think he's a go to guy for connecting dots between cultures and with some insights on life, stay on the rails and seek one's bliss.

Joseph Campbell. My long lost companion. I find so much comfort and resonance in his words. Truly brilliant. As with all books, this one offers a deeper understanding of oneself through the words of another. I highly recommend if you are interested understaning your mind as well as the underlying thread that connects us all so intimately.

Campbell book is 5 stars; book format is 1. Suck uncomfortable book to read. Its a 1 inch book and the text is close to the both corners of the page that meet, thus making it weird to read the end of lines. My hands get tired of holding it open.

Joseph Campbell's Art of Living book is quite similar to his Myths to Live By. I liked Myths to Live By better, though. If Campbell's writings were jazz, Myths to Live By would be traditional but Art of Living would be acid. My feelings otherwise are the same for this book as Myths to Live By. Basically, Campbell advocates a kind of religious ideal that blends certain universal features from other world religions and belief systems, with the heaviest blends being from Buddhism and what looks like Jungian psychoanalytic theory about archetypes. If you are going to read any work by Campbell, I'd recommend Myths to Live By instead just because it makes a better case for Campbell's blends.

I wanted something to refer to without rereading his larger books, which I keep intending to do. I enjoyed some of it but it became dull and tedious and in the end the subject matter not to my liking.

I read most of this book carefully. I don't really subscribe to the Western philosophers ( Jung, Kant, Schopenhauer, et al) since they make living too much of a chore. It reminds me of a math professor copying equations out of a text onto the board, for students to work out. Campbell does manage to stumble onto Vedanta, thank God, and mentions Sri Ramakrishna. Ramakrishna made everything simple, he wasn't much for reading, but he did realize God. Swami Vivekananda wrote terrific stuff, easy to understand, because Swamiji had realized God. The only reality is God, and everything else is an illusion, changeable and ego driven. Jesus mentioned the truth, and the Kingdom of Heaven. But that's another way of saying, realize God and find you real Self.
Campbell is an eclectic author.

I found this book, which I received as a gift, to be very disappointing in several regards.

1) The beginning section is a collection of unrelated quotations, with no context, and therefore with little meaning or value
2) Some parts of the material are repeated, such as the the advice given to a young Native America facing a chasm.
3) There appears to be plagiarism here. I have read seven of Campbell's books and I find that he is always careful to give full attribution to the ideas of others. Yet there are snippets of this book (once again repeated multiple times) that are not Campbell's original thoughts, yet no credit is given. As an example, the multiple bits about the lion, the dragon and "thou shalt" is taken directly from Nietzsche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra"

I doubt that Campbell would have approved.

Diane Osbun, who compiled this collection, has done a magnificent job of making Campbell come to life. Her compilation and great editing skills provides us with a spiritual and reflective autobiography of that master of myth, Joseph Campbell.

Campbell`s books were often required reading in courses I took in school, and I can see his influence on the thinking of other scholars that I like to read, such as James Carroll and Fritjof Capra.

In Osbun's hands, Campbell instructs, delights, and makes us think bigger thoughts on life, love, religion, symbolism, art, writing, and just plain living, than we may have ever thought before. I find this assortment of quotations, thoughts and essays by Joseph Campbell as comforting and refreshing as sitting on my much-loved Grandpa's lap was when I was a little girl.

"Our actual ultimate root is in our humanity, not in our personal genealogy." [pg 146]

"Let the world be as it is and learn to rock with the waves." [pg 189.]

"What is the meaning of life?" Joseph was often asked, and he would respond, "There is no meaning. We bring meaning to it." [pg 10]

Kim Burdick
Stanton, Delaware

I was first introduced to this book after I had knee surgery and was forced to lay on my butt and keep relatively inactive. I have to admit, I was feeling a little sorry for myself thinking and feeling that somehow I was being cheated by the universe in some way. So my friend comes over with this book and starts reading me sections out of it...
He reads outloud, "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are..."
Immediately my consciousness elevated. I said, "What did you just say?"
He repeated, "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are..."
"Oh, my...that's an amazing thought...oh, I really like that..."
And even though he continued to read on, my mind and my heart stayed with that one nugget of pure gold. I let this idea permeate my whole being. It was just what I needed to hear. My surgery was not about punishment, it was about using it in a way that would/could serve me in greater ways than I was able to forsee at the time.
My friend left and I immediately hobbled over to the computer and ordered this book. In about three days (interesting symbology itself) it arrived and I began to not just read this book but devour it with all of my heart, mind, and soul. I really feel that the essence behind the words contributed greatly to my healing...not just with my knee, but in other areas that I might have previously let go unaddressed.
I give copies of this book to people for their birthdays and I always inscribe this message, "....because the privilege of a lifetime is being exactly who and what you are!"
Let this and the other wondrous truths that can be discovered in this beautiful book sink into your mind, your heart, and soul.Remind yourself that it is a privilege of a lifetime to be who you are and then attempt to realize with real eyes that this is the truth of everyone and everything despite what the appearances may look like! Facts change but the Truth lives on forever...

Within the academic world where he spent the better part of his career, the late Joseph Campbell had a somewhat unique approach to the study, interpretation, and understanding of mythology. Whereas his fellow scholars most often approached the subject with an analytic eye, Campbell suggested an alternative way --using the artistic eye. In "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" Campbell suggested myths "were not manufactured" that they were "spontaneous productions of the psyche" and that each reflected the "germ power of the source."
In A JOSEPH CAMPBELL COMPANION, Diane Osborn has assembled excerpts from Campbell's many works, and distilled the central ideas Campbell wrote about over the years concerning the origin and purpose of myths. She has organized these excerpts into topical areas: "In the Field", "Living in the World", "Coming into Awareness", and "Living in the Sacred." Although the topics can be viewed as linear, reflecting the progress of the soul or psyche, I suspect Campbell would have suggested they are also cyclical and that one exists in all four simultaneously.
I feel the last section of the Campbell Companion, "Living in the Sacred", contains some particularly insightful notions regarding the nature of art and artistic endeavor, and the role of art in affecting human lives. In this section, Osborn has quoted heavily from Campbell's "Myths to Live By" and provided quotations from several of the artists who affected Campbell's own life and writing including James Joyce and Walt Whitman.
For example, Campbell describes how the words of the German writer Schiller, in answer to a friend's problem with 'writer's block' -- "Your problem is that you bring in the critical factor before the lyical factor has had a chance to express itself" -- affected his own thinking and writing. Campbell says he had allowed the criticism of other "scholars" to interfere with his artistic processes, and that Schiller's words freed him to get on with "seeing" and "hearing" what myths could teach him.
"Mythologies and religions are great poems and, when recoginzed as such, point infallibly through things and events to the ubiquity of a 'presence' or 'eternity'that is whole and entire in each....The first condition, therefore, that any mythology must fulfill if it is to render life to modern lives is that of cleansing the doors of perception to the wonder, at once terrible and fascinating, of ourselves and of the universe of which we are the ears and eyes and the mind."

Unlike most of Joseph Campbell's other works, A JOSEPH CAMPBELL COMPANION can be used as a daily reader with each brief topic consumed separately. The text of the book draws its material from an intensive seminar led by Campbell at Esalen in 1983.
The seminar lasted for one month and was attended by the editor, Diane K. Osbon, and nine other fortunate people.
In one memorable segment Campbell discusses the woman's life and her journey. The traditional role of the woman is in relationship in one way or another to a family. This role can continue into old age as in the example of the grandmother. Campbell contrasts the traditional female role to that of the female professors who are more on the male hero's journey deriving fulfillment from worldly achievements. Campbell sees these women as being less fulfilled than women who are also in nontraditional roles but are totally involved in the arts. The latter receive their fulfillment mostly from doing what the artist does and not so much from their accomplishments.
If you begin to read A JOSEPH CAMPBELL COMPANION, it will be a difficult volume to put back in the book case. It is more likely to remain close at hand to be read again and again.

After my mom died I needed something. I KNEW inately that this was the way of the world, the way of life but I needed someone to confirm that for me. I knew it was 'fair' and that life is what it is and that we have to be who we are as we move through it. (Maybe I got all that kind of thing from the many many times I watched the interview of JC with Bill Moyers many years ago.) Someone on a book group mentioned this book to me so I ordered it, and I read it. And it helped me to accept the world when it is painful. "... participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world."

Thanks for this book. It's a keeper.

I also want to say that while everyone here seems to mention how good the book is in distilling his work with myths and religion and whatnot, no one seems to mention that it's a darn good book to read when you needed something life affirming.

The world is perfect. It's a mess. It's always been a mess and that's perfect.

I keep coming back to this book. for two years now this has been a major source of help and insperation to me.
I love how Campbell clearly states some rather complicated and somewhat convulted ideas in a clear and easy to understand format. I particularly enjoy his summary of Nietznsche's philosophy on loving your fate and master and slave morality. They have inspired my imagination and helped me with very difficult times. I also love this quote " Ideas are dangerous. Don't take them too seriously. You can get by on a few."
In the end what makes this book so great for me is that everytime I open it I find something I didn't see before.Or didn't quiet understand.

If one has read Campbell's other work, then this is like a great pick me up book. Readers who have not already experienced the scholar's work would be best served by reading those before they decide to tackle this one. It's not all too often that one comes across a book that you can't put down and I can say that this is one of the few times that I can say that. I read this in only a matter of days and would think about reading it when I didn't have time to. This collection has a very intimate feel and really gives the sense that you have almost comes across a secret journal that had been written long ago, but was written just for you. It's like having a private conversation with Campbell himself. The majority of this volume has been pulled from lectures and journals which perhaps have never been published and gives the sense that Campbell is letting you in on secrets that only few in the world have ever been gifted with, all from the comfort of your living room. As a scholarly work this doesn't hold up to "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" but as an entertaining read it is a wonderful book. Joseph Campbell the teacher gives way to Joseph Campbell, the friend. Biased as I am in that I admire him so much, I would recommend this book to any who love his ideas. It feels like a talk with an old friend, letting you in on all those little glimpses of his experiences.

Love Joseph Campbell, hate this book. First of all, you can't tell who said what. Everything is just thrown together in a sort of hodgepodge. You have (presumably) JC's narrative interspersed with these really cringeworthy verses that appear to have been written by the person who edited the book and put it together. And I mean there are a lot of these little verses and I'm sorry but they're just annoying. They have no literary value that I can see (although it's in the eye of the beholder of course, I grant that) and there are just way too many of them. Even though I am way into JC and I was intrigued by the title of this book, I ended up giving up on it. Just too annoying.

When my father, a Humanities professor, first gave me this book to read, I thought that it would just be one more over-idealistic study in eccentricity. I was wrong! The book is very educational and even somewhat practical. Most importantly, it has given me a new philosophy about why some cultures have developed countries and why some don't. The traditional socio-economic division in the world is between the east and west, that is, the "liberal" western tradition and the more convervative and subservient cultures of eastern and southeastern asia (Campbell divides them at the country of Iran). But he also brilliantly realizes that there is another, possibly even more important socio-economic division in the world---north and south! The reason for this is that cultures who live north of the tropic of cancer usually have cold winters, where nothing grows, and they must diligently plan for the grain harvests each year. These northern cultures, which include Japan, Korea, and northern China as well as Europe, must be very organized to deal with the harsh climate, and with this organization eventually came developed nations. This is in contrast to the cultures of the world that live between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn (with the hot equator in the middle). These warm-climate cultures do not need to worry about seasonal changes nearly as much, and spent their free time pursuing other, less organized activities such as superstition and tribal warfare. Thus, in the race to develop their nations, they fell behind by several hundred or even thousands of years. I think that there is nothing politically incorrect about this statement; it is just simply ironic that a culture blessed with a good climate is cursed with a lack of motivation to organize and develop their country. Campbell's hypothesis explains a great deal about the state of world affairs today, and why the northern cultures have generally toned down or abandoned religion, while the warm-climate cultures have embraced superstition and religious fanaticism to the point of world crisis (ex. the middle east).

Huge fan of Joe Campbell. His work has been a guiding factor in my life since I encountered it in college years. Campbell appealed to me since he was pointing out similarities of timeless stories from different cultures, searching for common threads and themes.
His description of the tale where the spoiled, rash young boy is under the test, vigil, or dark night, [more lightheartedly, clouds raining over Charlie Brown in Sunday funnies] and fitted with anger yells feelings to his believed enemy I hate you, the man in whose house I slept last night will kill someone , or be killed by someone or both , due to you, is telling of some things we still do not understand, what Campbell often describes as magic. Magic, pretty awesome sometimes

This is an extremely well edited version of Campbell's Esalen Institute lectures with some well selected supplimental material from other sources thrown in. It would be worth reading simply for the revelation that Campbell hung out with John Steinbeck and Doc Rickets during the Great Depression. In fact, that great, wild party described in _Cannery Row_ actually happened- it was being held in honor of Joe Campbell! Somehow I find it entirely appropriate that Steinbeck and Campbell should be connected.

I personally found another personal revelation interesting, namely, that Campbell never bothered to obtain a Ph.D. He felt that it would "interfere with his reading" and he simply didn't want to waste his time with it. Yet, he still serendipitously found a position as a college professor and became one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century. And all because he followed his bliss- and the universe cooperated.

It is helpful if the reader already has an appreciation for the author's breadth and depth of understanding of mythology before beginning A JOSEPH CAMPBELL COMPANION. It is particularly useful if one is familiar with Campbell's belief that certain mythic motifs are found in virtually all of the world's traditions.
Much of A JOSEPH CAMPBELL COMPANION is written in the easy conversational style of the author . It is highly readable and relies very little on scholarly jargon.
The parts of the book I find most interesting are those pages devoted to a discussion of Buddhism and the relevance of some of its teachings for all of us.

Over the years I have purchased at least twenty copies of this book to give to friends and loved ones. Joseph Campbell discusses life's most meaningful and interesting subjects - theology, philosophy, psychology, and mythology. He shares a profound interpretation which includes his own personal path through life beginning as an ambitious student and ending as a well seasoned educator. Joseph Campbell's life is an excellent example of the true art of living. This book is thoroughly fascinating and full of inspiration.

Normally avoiding these types of "companion" works, I usually prefer the complete books and/or essay collections of such seminal thinkers as Campbell.
Not so in this case. This work proves to be an elegant, comprehensive tour of the mind of the really important J.C.
I was surprised to come across as many typos as I did, but this did not terribly distract from an otherwise awesome book, certainly not enough to avoid giving it a five-star rating.

This book is solid gold. I absolutely recommend it.

HOWEVER, the Kindle edition I bought is full of oddly-placed dashes and hyphens. Some of the drop-cap letters mysteriously do not appear where they should. I've noticed spelling errors.

Perhaps the printed edition does not have these errors?

The Kindle edition absolutely needs a copy editor to go through it.

This book is a true companion of mine in my daily life as well as in my writing and teaching. I quote this book several times in Wheel of Initiation and rely on Joseph Campbell's wisdom and this beautiful compilation of his words. A recommended reading for all of Joseph's readers as well as those on any spiritual pilgrimage. Wheel of Initiation: Practices for Releasing Your Inner Light

I have read my copy three times now, and each time I have gained new insights, and uncovered more of my self. Joseph Campbell has said that the hero's journey always begins with a call. For many, this book may help you hear that call.
Light bulbs will go off when you read this book. For those of you familiar with Campbell's work, you know what I mean. For those of you who don't, find out!!
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." -- Joseph Campbell
"The heroic life is living the individual adventure." -- Joseph Campbell

This is a collection of both brief and longer bits of Campbell's writing, reflecting a "rebellious smart person's" lifetime of questioning, searching, and discovering key aspects of humanity and personal growth through clues in literature, philosophy, psychology, religion, mythology, and metaphysics. He is the master of synthesizing interdisciplinary knowledge with special attention to the common ground found in all cultures and across time periods as well. Sometimes I carry a copy with me while going about my daily adventures, and often the quick quote or page I open to creates the magic moment in your day that you long for when reality forgets to give it to you.

All I wish is for everyone in the world to read this book in order to understand how humble, greatful and moved I felt(still feeling) after reading this book. Whe you read this book make sure you are prepare to a marvelous journey into the deepest part of yourself. God must of given Mr.Campbell the gift of understanding life and also the gift of shearing those experiences. wow!

If you've never read anything by Joseph Campbell, this is a wonderful place begin. With the master's illuminating perceptions about the process of spiritual awakening, our struggle to come into awareness & the art of living in the sacred, the poet Diane K. Osborn has gathered a lovely assortment of beautiful & profound writings. Deeply rewarding & makes a great gift.

This is a treasure chest of wisdom and insight overflowing with gems. I have hilighted almost the entire book. It is a gift of sanity amidst a sea of madness, a navigation guide pointing the way to courageous bliss!

After reading "The Power of Myth"(and watching the DVD) I knew this book was my next step. It truly is an astonishing read because Campbell takes so many complex issues and breaks them down into ways that are easily understood and profoundly inspiring. It makes you want to go right out there and work on life all over again!

The one thing this book could use(which I can see is verified by the other reviewers), is a better Table of Contents or a more comprehensive Index.

This is such a wonderful book for inspiration; I have bought it over and over for gifts. Joseph Campbell ties the basic underlying truths found in mythology and religion to man's quest for the meaning of life.

This is a GREAT little book, with gem after gem of wisdom, and is my advanced reading for guidance as to how to live as I approach the last part of my life from age 60 to potentially 80-90 years old. Highly recommended!

I know of no set of readings produced in the 20th Century that can so certainly be read again and again with new life during every reading. Just the set of quotations from Campbell at the beginning of the book are worth its price. Buy the hardback, ribboned edition for you will be reading and referring to this volume again and again.

Love how it reads! I'm not good at the textbook/analyze-for-chapters type of book, as much as I would love to be. This book was perfect! Easy read, like he's talking directly to you, and diverse "ah-ha" moments throughout.

If you're reading these reviews to help decide if you should purchase this book, let me encourage you to do just that. This book is an easy read and once you start you'll have it finished in very little time. What you will probably be taking away from this book is something that is all together timeless. Be good to yourself.

As a fan of Joseph Campbell's writings I was excited to see a book titled "A Joseph Campbell Companion", especially prefixed by the words "Reflections on the Art of Living". It sounded like something right up my alley. How could you possibly go wrong with a title like that?

The short answer is that this book is not organized in a helpful way. I was expecting something akin to Anne Charter's "Portable Beat Reader" where each section is well organized and documented and each entry is titled and dated so you know where it came from -much like an encyclopedia. Instead what you get is a long series of sound bites and miscellaneous quotes that you have to look up in the reference pages in the rear of the book for clues as to how to put things into any sort of context. Although much of the writing is superb, it is often hard to tell where passage starts or stops.

The result makes me think of the sort of book that's good for the bathroom. You can pick it up and read a random passage and get something out of it, but reading it from front to back is often frustrating.

I've been a Joseph Campbell fan for years, and this book is a perfect one to give as a gift to someone who isn't quite up to reading his more scholorly works. It's a guideline for life gleaned from his in-depth study of cultural myths from which he developed his own wonderful philsophy of life.

I was given this book after telling a friend about a PBS show I saw with Joseph Campbell. It introduced me to the thoughts of a man who would change my life. I have shared it with friends who all feel the same way. A go to book for me!!

We are each living our own Hero's Journey in life. This book is a guide on that journey. Wonderful quotes that inspire. For the price of movie ticket, you get a weekend workshop on how to live a life that you're destined to live.

Wow! This book is really amazing and life changing for me--and I think for anyone who would be willing to go through it. It's amazing...It's not preachy, it includes personal insights and experiences by Joseph Campbell. I think everyone should read this book!

Reads like random ideas and notes from a working file and not a book that you can't put down. It is more of a published work in process and not a finished cohesive work, the kind that we came to expect from Campbell.