The Power of Myth

Disappointing because the conversation bunches from place to place and it never seems a line of thought is finished. I am not really seeing what is suppose to be so great about this Campbell guy. Seems like somewhere along the line someone said he was great and the lemmings follow. Perhaps I will give him a third strike but this book and a DVD did nothing for me.

While I loved watching Joseph Campbell being interviewed by Bill Moyer, I don't particularly like reading what Moyer did and said. It just does not translate well for me. It would be far better to buy/rent videos of their numerous conversations.

I love the subject but the interview style just keep me out ot the flow of the book. It seemed disjointed. Love Moyers and Campbell so I had my hopes up high for a good read but it just did not work for me.

I like this book a lot for what Campbell says, but I found the Q&A format tiresome about 2/3 of the way through. I'm aware this is a classic, so I'm pushing myself to finish, but the free-flowing conversational part is difficult for me.

I was hoping this book would provide a counterpoint to some of the atheist literature I have read and enjoyed. Specifically, I was hoping to find an argument supporting the idea that myths are an important part of human culture (even if they aren't literally true). Colleagues had told me that Campbell makes a compelling case for the similarity of mythic narratives throughout history, suggesting that certain ideas are hard-coded into homo sapiens. Instead, I felt like I was listening to two old men commiserating about "kids these days," without giving a sufficient account of their ideas. I couldn't finish it. I would recommend other readers unfamiliar with Campbell try one of his other books first. The Power of Myth is a transcribed interview, after all, and it might assume that readers are already familiar with the author's work.

I was very disappointed when these books arrived because I thought I purchased the original edition, with the photos and captions. Instead, this was pure text and smaller. Apparently someone decided this was better and I disagree. I had to go back to the store and search for the original books from used booksellers and thankfully found a couple in good enough condition to gift.

The discussion between the two men is very 'wordy' and feels heavy. Also, it moves too quickly. There are some gems of insights that require a little more thought in the form of further discussion, but the format of the interview does not allow for that. As I said, there are some absolutely wonderful insights, but you feel as if you have to trawl through a lot of extraneous dialogue to get to them. Sometimes, too many words can swamp a deeper meaning, making it hard to extract the salient point. I would not recommend this book.

This book is a mediocre dialogue where one speaker is a pretentious professor with all the answers and the other an adoring fan. Dialogues don't really work if there is no exchange, a give and take. Here Moyers throws Campbell nothing but softballs. There some historical and factual inaccuracies as well.

A disappointment.

i purchased this as a required reading for a sociology course. it's a "nice to know" about topic but it didn't greatly enhance my life as i already have a set beliefs and this book didn't challenge it, but it helped me be more secure about what i believe in.

'The Power of Myth' is an extraordinary book because it’s not a book. It’s a typescript of radio dialogues, which makes for the liveliness of the content. I recommend it to everyone who lacks time to read more of the great scholar, or who is a bit at pains with reading highly academic diction.

This book can be savored word for word, it can be read aloud, it can be read at night, as bedtime lecture, and it will always give a fascinating read. I read it in one night, as it was such a fascinating lecture. Bill Moyers is a very present interviewer and he surely had a liking for interviewing ‘the Great Campbell’; his sympathy for him is not to be overlooked, and was definitely conducive to bringing about an invaluable document of the deeper thoughts of the great scholar.

Campbell illustrates a variety of material he presented in Occidental Mythology, perhaps because the content is more controversial, and also because it bears a direct link to our own culture. He expresses some deep truths that form part of his mythological vision in a more convincing manner than in the former book, for example as to the Christian ideal of brotherhood, and how it was applied in practice.

Campbell leaves no doubt that this myth indeed tells us an important story about present times, and that it has forged some of our controversial values. They were essentially forged through that in-group versus out-group thinking that goes back to our Biblical past.

It seems that since those early times of patriarchy, humanity is entangled in one tight knot of violence, and it is our major trinity of religions that have helped this knot to be so tight. It is not one of these religions, but all three of them, Judaism, Christianity and Islam that are sworn into this kind of thinking. By contract, Eastern culture and religion offer a counterpoint here, and Campbell puts it eloquently when he says:
—Heaven and hell are within us, and all the gods are within us. This is the great realization of the Upanishads of India in the ninth century B.C. All the gods, all the heavens, all the worlds, are within us. They are magnified dreams, and dreams are manifestations in image form of the energies of the body in conflict with each other. That is what myth is. Myth is a manifestation in symbolic images, in metaphorical images, of the energies of the organs of the body in conflict with each other. This organ wants this, that organ wants that./46

When we realize that the devil we see in the out-group is but our own shadow, we are little inclined to go out and kill all scapegoats in the form of ethnic, racial or sexual minorities. Here we are again in the midst of Occidental Mythology when Moyers asks Campbell about the Christian story where the serpent is the seducer.

Campbell’s reply is highly interesting for it amounts to saying that the biblical tradition really is founded on an anti-life attitude, on an opposition to nature, and as a result, an opposition of man toward woman. When Moyers asked Campbell if he had found this idea of woman being a sinner, in other mythologies, Campbell replied:
—No, I don’t know of it elsewhere. … The serpent, who dies and is resurrected, shedding its skin and renewing its life, is the lord of the central tree, where time and eternity come together. He is the primary god, actually, in the Garden of Eden. Yahweh, the one who walks there in the cool of the evening, is just a visitor./54

Campbell’s answer is in alignment with the oldest of traditions, that all affirm the serpent to be the god of the gods, the ultimate spiritual force of the universe. This is also the teaching of the old Chinese sages and of most of the native peoples around the world. But to depict Yahweh as a visitor is an idea I have not found elsewhere. Campbell implicitly says that what Eisler called the ‘truncation of civilization’ through the reversal of the symbolism after the cultural turndown of matriarchy, has not really taken place, at least not on the level of the unconscious, and in mythology. Campbell suggests that what he called the counterplayer to patriarchy, the Serpent-Goddess, is still active on the level of the unconscious, and probably also on the level of the collective unconscious, relegating the ‘New God’ to the status of a visitor.

It could not be clearer, and the principal consequence of this rejection of the Goddess is in Campbell’s view an implicit rejection of the unitary principle in nature, the unity of all living as we find it so highly acclaimed and worshipped in Hinduism and Buddhism. Campbell explains that we deal here with a true shift in consciousness from the consciousness of identity to the consciousness of participation in duality. As the dialogue develops, it becomes more focused and more general, and eventually turns to asking what myth is about, what mythology does, and what it should do. Campbell asserts that the ancients myths were designed to harmonize body and mind, and to bring man in touch with nature, and the nature in himself. Another question asked was who rules whom in a democracy? Campbell makes it clear that the rule of the majority does not regulate our values, but only our day-to-day politics, because ‘in thinking …, the majority is always wrong.'

This is an important insight as there are many young people today who simply over-adapt to society because of their fear to be different from the herd. Instead of living their own life, and their own love, they ask what the majority does and thinks, thereby annihilating their self-power—or soul power—and exposing themselves to being ultimately shunned by the good citizens that make out the majority. These young people would certainly benefit from reading Campbell’s books, so much the more as our media remain silent about these issues. Campbell, taking the Star Wars plot as a popular example, voices his deepest concerns at what could be called the Darth Vader reality of modern culture.

And from here, Campbell goes on to show how the ‘schizophrenic crack’ comes about in so many of our young people today because they are filled with the ignorant recipes of popular culture instead of being resourced by their own soul reality.
And global international consumer culture does all it can to heat up that collective psychosis, to fire up the cultural demons, the many shadows it creates through discarding more and more behavior forms out of its official and politically correct paradigm of living, thereby creating miles of prison space for all those that are not exactly walking on-the-line.

A paranoid, schizoid culture cannot establish real values and valid rules because it has no real and valid self-image, and its public opinion largely consists of modern myths, even though most of these myths are ‘scientifically corroborated.’ In a society where more than seventy percent of all scientists work for the military and where more than eighty percent are governmentally funded, it is absolutely no problem to get a scientific backup for the latest top-notch genocide technology. Despite all, Campbell passionately encourages young people to go their own way, instead of sacrificing their own authentic vision to the emotional addictions of their parents. Campbell’s message is encouraging for all of us because it’s positive, and because it’s human in a time where inhumanity seems to get the overhand, and he shows us that we have to find our strength inside because we all have extraordinary gifts and resources.

When Campbell voiced his opinion that he found the idea of God as Absolute Order ‘simply ridiculous’, the discussion took a very interesting turn. Moyers asks if the courage to love, in the troubadour tradition of the Middle Ages, became the courage to affirm one’s own experience against tradition and why that was important for evolution of Western thought? Truly, an intelligent question. Campbell replies:
—It was important in that it gave the West this accent on the individual, that one should have faith in his experience and not simply mouth terms handed down to him by others. It stresses the validity of the individual’s experience of what humanity is, what life is, what values are, against the monolithic system. The monolithic system is the machine system: every machine works like every other machine that's come out of the same shop./234

I think here we have got to an angular point in our tradition in that it is not a monolithic system, because love, human love and desire, is a transformational lever not only for individual growth, but also for society at large.

The idea is paramount in the history of Western individualism and here we encounter what the wisdom tradition has called The Holy Grail. What is that about? Campbell explains:
—The Grail becomes symbolic of an authentic life that is lived in terms of its own volition, in terms of its own impulse system, that carries itself between the pairs of opposites of good and evil, light and dark./245

The individual love quest is always a manifestation of the larger desire to become an individual, to gain true autonomy, to be self-reliant and powerful, and this quest can never be respectable, to paraphrase Krishnamurti. Campbell notes:
—Insofar as love expresses itself, it is not expressing itself in terms of the socially approved manners of life. That’s why it is all so secret. Love has nothing to do with social order./254

When we recognize that love is on a different level than social order, we can realize our love, and will realize it not on the lines of social order and majoritarian approval, but based upon our own soul values.

Mr. Campbell offers an excellent prologue to the TED talks. By providing his interviewer with question materials ahead of time, he is able to briefly recount many, many clever snippets of stories from many different cultures, which he uses to force metaphor proving that all humans and all cultures are functionally identical, and how we must reach within ourselves to create change we can believe in through environmental sustainability and listening to wise African shamans regarding matters of electrical engineering. Campbell teaches us how all stories are pretty much the same, and how Sigmund Freud's brilliant work demonstrates the insanity of white people, who lust for their parents and do horrible things because of it. He and Moyers share a passionate faith for their own personal Jesus: a god who is a metaphor for all religions, which can all be expressed and understood through an embrace of humanity which one accomplishes by meditating more often and not cursing at your limo driver when he's a minute late picking you up for dinner.

I read this book after seeing the excellent video series of the same title, with Bill Moyers as Campbell's on-screen companion as they toured through the world of myth. This, as well as Campbell's Myths To Live By, are good entries to that world; not as heavy as his Masks of God series, or, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, but just as rewarding.

Why turn your attention to mythology this summer? Campbell answers that right from the get-go, in response to the question, "Why myths... what do they have to do with my life?"

Campbell: "I don't believe in being interested in a subject just because it's said to be important. I believe in being caught by it somehow or other. But you may find that, with a proper introduction, mythology will catch you.... once this subject catches you, there is such a feeling, from one or another of these traditions, of information of a deep, rich life-vivifying sort that you don't want to give it up."

Let this book catch you and vivify you, let mythology put its hook in you, and you just might find you'll never give it up.

Like most others,I was introduced to Joseph Campbell by Bill Moyers in a series of televised interviews more than twenty years ago.

Accidently tuning in one night, I at first thought "Oh no, another dry interview with another stodgy academic."
But something was happening between these two men that caught my attention--so I listened on--and in a matter of minutes I recognized the true genius that was Joseph Campbell. With rapt attention, I closely followed their conversation, not just this night but each of six successive nights it took to complete the series.

By the time it was over I was convinced, as I still am today, that Campbell was the smartest, wisest man in the world, bar none. After hour upon wonderous hour of his responding to Moyers' questions, I realized he hadn't even begin to reveal the storehouse of knowledge contained in his being.
His powerful physical presence and captivating voice kept one glued to his every word. Listening to him was like sitting and listening to your beloved grandfather--in the dark of night, around a fire, as if you were the only two on the planet, and he was revealing to you the secrets of life.

Campbell brought the old cliche, "walking encyclopedia" to life for he truly was one and watching and listening to him I remember thinking-"God, I hope this man never dies." "The world can not afford to lose such a man and his wealth of knowledge and wisdom." But die he did, and I doubt there can ever be another like him.

It didn't seem that Campbells' copious knowledge could be contained in just one man but that it would take perhaps five or six men studying a lifetime to accumulate so much--and not just accumulate so much but to actually retain it--and not just to accumulate and retain it but connect it all together in such a way that it provided the wisdom and answers to mans' deepest questions.

Campbell knew folktales, myths, religons, philosophies, science and and history. He knew and could quote passages from the great religous and sacred texts of all the worlds religons and cultures--present and past. He knew the minute detail of history--from the dawn of man to present day. He knew the extensive world of Mythology-- of cultures far in the distant past--Greek, Roman, Indian, Asian--the history and culture of all continents and societies--even those of small island civilizations. He knew the creation stories of countless civilizations, stories of the great flood, of our journey to the afterlife and mans eternal quest for meaning through myth--and he wove it all together into one grand story--the story of man.

He was a storyteller of the first order for he could take all this knowledge, weave it all together into the fabric we call life--make sense of it all--show how it was all related--how everything was connected. Slowly he pulled back the veil from all of lifes' greatest mysteries and now you felt you understood, like he, the meaning of Gods creation.

Reading the book version of these long ago interviews will not be nearly as good as having heard him talk in person but the knowledge and wisdom is still there for the taking.

As you age you will find yourself thirsting more and more for these things called insight and wisdom and less and less for the superficial. Get a head start while you are still young. Get this book!

DH Koester--"And There I Was' And There I Was, Volume I: A Backpacking Adventure In Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia

The Power of Myth is based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers. It contains interview transcripts of a conversation between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers at the Star Wars ranch about mythology, philosophy, religion and more coverage not included in the television series. It may not be the best of Joseph Campbell's work but it is the most accessible for readers. It has aged somewhat because interviews are conducted differently now so the format may not appeal to everyone. The real value is the years of wisdom coming through from Campbell in his simple answers and sincere delivery. He isn't trying to sell you anything or rehash old ideas.

9 Chapters: 1.Myth and the Modern World, 2.The Journey Inward, 3.The First Storytellers, 4.Sacrifice and Bliss, 5.The Hero's Adventure, 6.The Gift of the Goddess, 7.Tales of Love and Marriage, 8.Masks of Eternity, 9.The Tale of Buddha

Both men examine many common motifs (e.g. hero myths) and provide insights and explanations. For anyone who wants to know more about the common themes we see in film, books and music this is an essential read. While more depth is provided elsewhere, such as the works of Dr. Carl Jung, this book is very accessible for people who want to understand the meaning and power behind symbols and time-honored themes that have inspired people for thousands of years. Some background in mythology is almost essential because Dr. Campbell weaves many different ideas together in this work in the old-school philosophical tradition. Overall, the book is a fairly light and enjoyable read.

I re-read this book and must admit the transcript format could have been edited to include more salient ideas from Campbell. However, the experience and wisdom of Dr. Campbell comes through splendidly in many passages. He speaks clearly about myth in philosophy, religion, and even fiction. There is discussion on the applicability of these ancient stories to people then and today. The book's ability to break down complex ideas is admirable. I had read dozens of philosophy texts before reading The Power of Myth and I wish I found it sooner. It's not as information dense as some would like but it is a classic now. Dr. Campbell speaks from years of experience and it comes across here in a friendly voice. There is much wisdom in his responses to consider.

Several years ago I tried to work my way through Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces (HWATF). I was designing a university course based on Star Wars at the time (true story) and learned that Lucas was influenced by Campbell in matters of plot and characterisation. So Campbell became a must read.

Almost immediately I ran into difficulties. HWATH is a hard study, at least for someone with my type of brain and training. If you, like me, are educated in the ways of Western thinking, especially in the Anglo-Saxon linguistic tradition, then Campbell may give you a migraine. How? His style is not analytic. There is a lack of definitions, sequential reasoning, accumulative evidence, cautious conclusions etc. Everything seems thrown together at once. Knowledge of all sorts of different disciples - literature, psychology, anthropology, theology - seems to be assumed. You have to know the whole before you can decipher the parts. By instinct and method, Campbell is a generalist; this is not in itself a bad thing.

However, I did need to find a different way into his thought. The Power of Myth (TPOM) provided this for me.

Here's what I got out of it.

First and foremost, I got an introduction to Campbell's ideas. Campbell, along with Henry Morton Robertson, wrote A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake. Well, TPOM serves as a sort of key to Campbell's thought. It'll get you started. I've since gone back to HWATF after reading TPOM and I feel I finally 'get it'.

Second, it could serve as a general introduction to the study of mythology. I've found it hard to come across such an intro. I've recently read Myth: A Very Short Introduction by Robert A Segal with mixed results. If anyone can recommend a quality introduction to myth theory then please do. In the mean time, TPOM contains snippets of schema and prime ideas that can serve as lunch pads for further investigation e.g. the four functions of myth (31), the two explanations of myth similarities (51), or the three centers of mythic creativity (59).

Third, TPOM is a good read in itself. There are lots of insights on a vast array of topics, from the medieval troubadours to Jung's mandalas to Zen Buddhism and beyond. Someone could use TPOM as a decent personal development type book (indeed I first came across it in Tom Butler-Bowdon's 50 Self-Help Classics). For the intellectually curious, it is highly invigorating; I actually found some of Campbell's more philosophical opines shocking. For instance, his views that the world cannot be improved or worsened, or that pain is a necessary part of growth, are contrary to popular mindsets (65-67). I smell the scent of Nietzsche (89, 150, 153, 161, none of which are listed in the index, naughty, naughty).

Forth, if you're a bit of a Star Wars or sci-fi geek and you want to read something beyond the (IMHO) tedious 'expanded universe' novels, then TPOM is a must. Bill Moyers does seek to take every opportunity to bring SW into the proceedings, although I sense that Campbell is less of an enthusiast. There are some nice insights about the role of Darth Vader as father in particular (144-146).

Fifth, the 'hero's journey' mono-myth has become a favourite of scriptwriters and novelists. With this, you can see why. Any budding author out there might want to give it a plunder.

Sixth, this edition of TPOM is beautifully illustrated with helpful quotes at the top of each chapter and sometimes graphic pictures relating to the topics. It is a big, glossy book, striking to flick through, better to read one chapter at a time. I've read TPOM three times now. You can read it quick or slow, depending on what you want out of it.

Here's the downside (or 'kathodos' as Campbell might have put it). 1) Some of the dialogue between Campbell and Moyers is - as a teenage girl might say - awk-ward. This is not a meeting of equals, which is fine, if Moyers hadn't tried to overreach his journalistic powers into the realms of the pseudo-academic and the mildly sycophantic. 2) Those who are traditional atheists might find Campbell's fuzzy version of Zen pantheistic monism off-putting. 3) In the other corner, Moyers seems keen to use the interview as a therapy session to work through his own issues with traditional Christianity. 4) Related to point two, those committed to Western scientism will want to take this book and use it for an experiment involving matches and lighter fluid. Small portions of it do feel like the ruminations of a couple of agéd hippies yakking over a shared spiff of west-coast weed. `Nough said, dude...

I'll give it a star each for content, stimulation, publication quality and niche. One star stays in my pocket, the same place Bill Moyers apparently kept his journalistic skills on this assignment.

I have always, from an early age, been fascinated with all forms of mythology and in The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell's exploration of the origins mythology through the diverse traditions and cultures throughout the world, opened a new avenue to explore my facination on the formation of myth and as a way to relate it to my own life journey.

The Power of Myth is a transcript of television interviews with Bill Moyer and Joseph Campbell. I watched the fascinating and engaging televised interview in the late 1980's when it first aired on PBS. Campbell's extensive life work covered and incorporated a plethora of legends, lore, and ancient myths from Africa, India, the Far East, Native America, Medieval Europe to demonstrate that acros the globe, all societies and cultures create myths because humans have the innate desire and need to question, to understand, to know...how did we come to exist, why are we here, what is our purpose?

Campbell's contribution to the world of myths, cultures, and rituals is incomparable. His insight regarding the power of myth challenges the reader to view the world through a different lens and to see ourselves as a part of the interconnected web of life. It is through the acknowledgement and understanding that it's within the construct of our collective customs, rituals, cultures, and traditions that leads us on the quest to for life, meaning, and self-realization. The ability to understand why myths are important in our lives; that myths are the foundation on which societies form their ideas, mores, values, and religion, is the essence of the power of myth.

Joseph Campbell was a scholar whose writing was from the heart and soul. His eloquent works motivated me to explore my beliefs about life, growth, love, spirituality and religion. This stimulating book will appeal to anyone who appreciates stimulating dialog about what living and being fully alive really means.

I had a surprising mystical experience after understanding a little bit of what Joseph Campbell taught. At the movies, I saw a statue of Christ with his arms open. For some reason, I was moved past seeing him as a historical figure but INSTEAD his image suddenly symbolized to me how much God loves us. I then immediately felt God's loving presence. Campbell might have said that the symbol was able to come alive for me because I was able to temporarily set aside the notion that Jesus was a historical figure. My experience seems similar to reading the Bible like it’s a history book which then blocks the reader from accessing the symbolic value (e.g., parting of the Red Sea). Being raised a Christian I automatically used Jesus as this symbol. But this isn’t just a Christian phenomenon because other people who grew up with different religious symbols are just as capable of having similar experiences. Plus after having my experience I concluded that this innate power of symbols must have been the driving force behind all the ancient religious mythologies.

I would rate this a 10, if I could. I drive back and forth to school three days a week, for a total of six hours. My family also lives six hours away. I am in my car alot. I originally saw this interview on PBS many years ago. Joseph Campbell was an extraordinary scholar, and his story telling and insight into our mythical and spiritual life is wonderful! Actually, i was listening so intently one time, that i hit a speed trap and got my very first speeding ticket in the small burg of Tichigan, Wisconsin!

Quality of recording: very good to excellent. In fact there are very few issues with audible.com downloads.

I highly recommend listening to Power of the Myth. It is timeless as is Joseph Campbell and this interview with Bill Moyer. Myths are still a big part of who we are, even in our technological wasteland (Audible.com recordings are available through an ipod app, and it is even better if you drive a car with bluetooth!). You will have to purchase and listen to understand the reference concerning technology!

Joseph Campbell was a great story teller and presented myths from different cultures in this TV-series hosted by Bill Moyers. Campbell was a prominent scholar and made great contribution in researching and analysing cross-cultural myths. In this popular TV-series, Moyers insisted on bringing back the subject of relevancy to contemporary society as demanded by the media he used. That, in an interesting way, had stretched Campbell's understanding of his subject matter to its limit, which in a way, shed much light to the possible relevancy of mythical studies to our contemporary society.

To be fair, Campbell was a scholar rather than a shaman. As he explained the "possession" or "shamanship" experience as follows (page 108): "He experiences what we might call a possession. But it is described in a flash, a kind of thunderbolt or lightning bolt, which passes from the pelvic area right up the spine into the head". As Campbell described, it is quintessentially a description of kundalini awakening - unlike Jung (whom Campbell mentioned favorably a number of times in his book) who did meditation and ventured into his own collective unconscious (and wrote his experience in his Red Book), and who had a definite objective: to cure his neurotic patients.

To be fair again to Campbell, apart from being a distinguished academic in the subject of mythology with an interpretation using concepts like archetypes, similarly defined as Jung, he was also interested in the subject of understanding (and coming to terms with) life as experienced by man. Campbell was a nostalgic person and wrote metaphorically (and beautifully) on the contribution of myths in past-times, like (page 100): "When a spider makes a beautiful web, the beauty comes out of the spider's nature. It's instinctive beauty. How much of the beauty of our own lives is about the beauty of being alive? How much of it is conscious and intentional? This is a big question."

Campbell however, as evidenced in this book, didn't seek the solution in the practice of shamanship. And he explained the impossibility of seeking it through today's organized religions. He somewhat envied the seeker of personal god(s), but, at least evidenced in this book, he didn't suggest nor offer a road-map to do the same. When "pressed" by Moyers, he did express his hope on art, and literature in particular, being he himself a Joyce expert and wrote a book on Finnegans Wake. Campbell seemed to understand that literature fans on mythic literature (like FW) will always be far-and-few. He talked about modern myths in terms of judges' wigs, the cowboys, Star Wars...all being weak-comparisons, at the same time, can be studied more fruitfully by other disciplines. And again, sometimes "hard-pressed" by Moyers, Campbell, instead of saying something like "this is not my expertise", turned into styles of some Oriental gurus, i.e. using "broad-brush metaphors" or "mythical language" that made further questioning, exploration or communication rather impossible. A limit that, fair to say, should be fully acceptable to be had by a distinguished retired academic on mythology.

All in all I highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in mythology, the collective unconscious or religion.

Okay the title is a geeky reference to Yoda. I picked up this book in my library when I was a teenager, checked it out, read parts of it, was interested in somethings, and that was about it. Then for some reason checked it out again a few years latter. Think the same copy. And I became fascinated. To this day few writers or teachers have inspired me as much. Unfortunately, Campbell's work is like a gateway drug of sorts. I became interested in the intellectual underpinnings of his interpretations of the great myths and religions and spirituality. So I started digging a little deeper. I began looking at his influences: Psychologists Carl Jung, Freud. Philosophers Arthur Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. There are other important influences on Campbell, but I developed an interest in philosophy. Well, that was that. I had a sort of mentor or great teacher in Campbell for awhile and at the time I really wanted, maybe needed one. But reading philosophy ruined it for me. I'll not get into that, except just to say that Jung is a quack and I can't swallow the metaphysics that is crucial to Campbell's take on myth. I think he relied on the best philosophy and psychology he was aware of at the time, but it doesn't hold up. Don't listen to me on it of course. I'm just some regular guy wondering about it all, maybe sorta like you. Do your homework and see what ya think. There is a ton of stuff online on Campbell, heh, just like everything else. TOO much stuff.

But I want to say, I love Campbell and appreciate his work and compassionate efforts as a truly wonderful, gifted teacher. I would to this day recommend Campbell.

Can't do better, imo, than "The Power of Myth" as a great introduction and very entertaining read. It is more than a good companion to the PBS series. It contains exchanges between journalist Bill Moyers and Campbell that were deleted from the televised program. Yes, the title is a dorky Star Wars reference, but while I was a Star Wars fan, that was not the principal draw. I really wanted the Truth. Campbell's interpretation of myth is perhaps wrong, fundamentally, in some important ways. But his work STILL inspires and you can get a lot out of it. Campbell recounting of the old stories, his breathing new, vital life into them, continues to amaze and inspire. He said we aren't looking for a meaning, really. What we want is "the experience of being alive so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our innermost being and reality, so that we can actually feel the rapture of being alive." I want to feel the rapture of being alive but I don't believe it is clear or makes sense to talk of "innermost being" and reality like he does. I thoughtlessly did at first, as do most people and probably you. Don't read philosophy -especially from the 20th Century- if your repulsed by the suggestion that innermost being is nonsense. But I still love the stories.

There is a reviewer in here who said that this book wasn't fit to read even for students in philosophy classes or whatever. I strongly disagree. This book is a wonderful introduction to the world's myths. I would have never picked this book up if it weren't for my dad, another avid reader. I've had this book for several months and had to put it down in between readings since it was not grabbing my interest like it should. (It's easy to see why, this book should be read and thoroughly enjoyed and pondered upon, of which I simply did not have the time to do so!)

I wish I had a copy of this book in my world history class in college because it would have made that class so much more interesting. It is a compliation of interviews between Bill Moyer and Joseph Campbell. It sounds boring since it is basically a transcripts of their TV interviews, but it really isn't. It is thoroughly interesting and the passion Campbell has for his education, thoughts, desires and life shines through the written word. And Campbell is a very passionate man, full of life and ideas. Men (or women) like him do not come along that often and this book is a great introduction to a forward thinker on the thoughts and philosophy of the world's myths, religions, history and more.

The basic premise of Campbell's philosophy in this book is to follow your bliss. There is more to life than what meets the eye and he uses examples after examples of old myths to show the idea that mankind has always been on the search for purpose of life, how to live life fully and how religion can hamper that desire. It is very interesting and very thought-provoking and insightful look in the human need to know where he/she belongs.

I know that my dad is a big fan of Campbell's work so I am sure he'll be passing along other books of Campbell's. I have to admit that after reading this one, I am even more intrigued.

7/25/08

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.

I kept this book from my boarding high school library in Vermont. I particularly like the explanation that in certain world cultures what is considered a schizophrenic phase is actually considered to be an outward experience and positive. This is an alternate viewpoint on what is held in the US and leads to significant social isolation, and could be the most socially isolating diagnosis on earth. I think that this discussion about mental health is the main important feature I derived from the book. The book contains interview from Bill Moyers with the author.

Joseph Campbell rocks. I just finished reading The Power of Myth, an interview he did with Bill Moyers back in 1985 and all I can say is, "Wow."

When discussing Joseph Campbell, one would be remiss to not include one, if not several of his quotes. The most popular by far is the follow your bliss quote:

If you follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one that you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.

I love this quote. It's so simple; do what you want to do. When I was a kid, there were two things that I knew I wanted to accomplish in my life: become a teacher and a writer. I feel like those two careers are a part of my biology. There were times when I tried to change my course. I tried resisting the natural path of my life only to discover that resistance was time-consuming and useless. Following my bliss has always been the less stressful way of life.

Mythology has always been fascinating to me. There is something about the zealous gods, the superfluous heroism and the crazy women who make Tyler Perry's Madea look as tame and innocent as a kitten that seizes my imagination. Mythology is like a creative feast- an all you can eat buffet of plots, characters, conspiracies and psychological disorders.

Power of Myth is the caterer of this mythological feast; it lays out all of the dishes into neat, organized components - The First Storytellers, The Hero's Adventure, and The Gift of the Goddess to name a few. From the Shinto texts of Japan to Dante's Divine Comedy, Campbell leaves no stone unturned as he masterfully shares his inexhaustible knowledge of myth.

This book is one long interview of Campbell by Bill Moyers. In this case, I'd rather listen to the audiobook, since it is an interview. I prefer to read Campbell's writing, and listen to his lectures on tape and interviews on tape.

forever,
Annie

Annie Lanzillotto
author of "L is for Lion: an italian bronx butch freedom memoir" SUNY Press
and "Schistsong" BORDIGHERA Press

www.annielanzillotto.com

L Is for Lion: An Italian Bronx Butch Freedom Memoir (SUNY series in Italian/American Culture)
Schistsong (Via Folios)
Blue Pill
Carry My Coffee (Live)
Eleven Recitations

Why do we need our folk tales, anyway? Why can't our religious icons be accepted at face value, instead of lifting them up higher than life? How do phrases like "Son of God" spring so easily and meaningfully from our lips? Why must we idolize our heroes, why do we embrace our rituals?

Journalist Bill Moyers interviews Joseph Campbell to learn why mythology is so important to us. This is sort of a compilation of Campbell's work. Says Campbell, mythology is the "song of the universe, the music of the spheres." It is what turns each little cluster of believers, with their own heritage, into the world's Chosen People. From Dante's Divine Comedy to Native American rituals, Campbell has plenty of opinions. He's an intellectual who is simply fun to read...he's got a way of just making sense, like a sort of Feynman for philosophers, that leaves you feeling like maybe you finally understand something.

This isn't a new book, but it's one of those must-reads that we shouldn't forget. I don't think Campbell means to trivialize religion, culture or customs; rather, I dare say, you might even find God in these pages.

Moyers and Campbell's conversation first aired on the PBS special: "The Power of Myth." The tapes capture the relaxed and entertaining essence of six programs: The Hero's Adventure; The Message of the Myth; The First Storytellers; Sacrifice and Bliss; Love and the Goddess; and Masks of Eternity. There is something very comforting in hearing Campbell's voice respond with ease to Moyers questions about myth: questions that anyone might ask. Campbell was a great storyteller, but it is his range of stories and depth of insightful interpretation that will keep the listener engaged - maybe awed. Taking place on George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch, "The Hero's Adventure" discussion has an interesting piece where Campbell laments the paucity of modern heroes and its consequences for adults and children alike. Then he relates the plot from the Lucas film "Stars Wars" with elements of the hero's journey; the listener can hear Campbell's optimistic excitement as he links the film's characters and plot to the Hero's rite of passage. The listener can sense Campbell's hope for future hero/heroine role models with universal appeal as his voice trys to keep pace with his thoughts. After listening to a tape individuals may feel a sense connectiveness to all that surrounds them: touched by the wisdom of myth. Campbell's words still echo in my ears, "If you follow your bliss . . .the life you ought to be living is the one you are living." For those who need to see the words and visually hold them in space and time, Moyers and Campbell's book "The Power of Myth" [edited by Flowers] provides the orginal PBS transcipt and additional material that was edited out. In addition to the six topics detailed on the tapes, the book includes the program on The Journey Inward.

I have lost track of just how many times I have listened to this set of conversations, but they never seem to grow old to me. It might be a year or more between my getting them down from the shelf, but they still completely emgross me. Perhaps that is the best indication that eternal truths are being discussed here.

Mr. Campbell recorded these sessions with Bill Moyers during the last two summers of his life. I find it significant that he didn't dispair, nor did he abandon or radically alter his life's work. No, he continued to draw strength from it and continued to believe that it was worth passing on to others. That is the sort of teacher that I want to listen to.

When I was a boy "myth" seemed to largely be equated with "lie", or at least with primitive ignorance. Joseph Campbell changed that misunderstanding for me. Thanks to these talks, and his other works, I comprehended that myths bring us to a level of consciousness that is spiritual and embedded deeply in our collective unconscious. It speaks to heart and not our brain (which, after all, is a secondary organ.)

As for his philosophy of "finding your bliss", it truly is the influence of a vital person to vitalize the world around them, thereby saving both their self and the world. If you do not eventually find your true center and act from it you are always going to be off balance.

Isn't it amazing when one sees the connections between most of the world's myths and beliefs? It's a small world. Joseph Campbell - along with a few other historians - is one of my go-to guys for research material. Plus - the stuff is just damn interesting!
(And the PBS mini-series was awesome, of course)

Recorded a couple of years before his death, this one-on-one conversation between professor of mythology Joseph Campbell and television journalist Bill Moyers opens up a world of stories and rituals we thought were and are primitive and barbaric. Professor Campbell shows us that the legends and stories of yore--the myths of early man--as well as their rituals and sacrifices were told and enacted because they ordered their experiences of the world. They explained and gave meaning to their lives. Moreover, the underlying themes to which these stories pointed told man what he was and what he needed to do in life.
In this program Campbell culls stories from Hinduism, Buddhism, from Native Americans, Africa, and the Medieval West to illustrate his thesis. Listened to with an ear for beauty and a mind prepared to catch the metaphors, these stories become indeed powerful vehicles for us to understand the world and ourselves.
While we may think that we at the turn of the millenium are sophisticated enough to dispense with myths, the fact is that people of every age and time need stories and myths to live. For instance one of the myths we of the 20th-21st century subscribe to is the myth of science and technology--these disciplines have become demi-gods to us, and the scientists the new priesthood.

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.

This book is a great book to start with if you are curious about what Myths from ancient history really meant and what the ancients were trying to teach. If you have watched any of the Joseph Campbell specials on PBS that explain his understanding of what Myths are trying to teach us about the nature of the world and about ourselves then this book is unneeded. This book only skims the basics and does not probe to deeply. Campbell believes that all Myths fron the American Indians, Greeks, Romans, and from India are veiled teachings about the nature of human conciousness played out by the characters in the Myths. He believes that we as human beings are divided with the organs in our bodies influencing us through their different needs. Campbell believes that to truly be happy you must follow your bliss, when you quit following your bliss for money, it is the beginning of unhappiness. Campbell also tears the sacred veil off modern religions explaining them away as nothing but modern day Myths that teach us about ourselves through metaphors, not to be taken literally. Great book, but read his others for more depth in his teachings.

Joseph Campbell is a master of comparative mythology. In this book, a transcript of a lengthy conversation with Bill Moyers, we get to hear Campbell outline the purpose of myth and the role in plays in humanity. What I love about this format is that it evokes the famous Ancient Greek dialogs. Campbell has a lot of important things to say, and this book is worth a read for anyone interested in being a human being.

He has answers to your quest. He does not wait, does not think twice, does not vary in his statements but he answers all your questions. The questions that you had been asking yourself about the purpose of your being in this world, questions about nature, questions about what is right and what is wrong.

Different people can have different uses for Joseph Campbell's study about mythology. If Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas can create movies out of it, you or anyone else can understand the power that mythology have had in the history of human life. An author like Dave Lakhani can refer Joseph Campbell's work when he is talking about Storytelling concept (marketing). That is entirely your own perception (like always) however the point is that this book is a must read. Even if you do not read the book but do get acquainted with the concept of mythology and storytelling and it's relation to human behavior. You would be presented with great insights and would smile on many occasions.

This is a work of a scholar, hence, how I review should not matter. Also, would try to focus on one point. The review is not just about the book but the entire concept of Mythologies. The reference to Buddha, Mohammad, Christ who understood mythologies and it is said that they used the concept to convey their message to the masses. If you are seeking information about persuasion, grow up from persuading an individual to persuading masses to lead them to what is right. This is where Mythology comes into picture. At one instance, he even mentions that Mythologies are neither truth nor lies but it is something that is generated out of the day to day problems that individuals faced in history and even today.

"How to live a human life under any circumstances, only myths can tell you that." excerpt from the interview.

My next book in reading is his another great work "The Hero with 1000 faces." It is a journey of how heros are formed in Mythologies and the real hero that exists within all or us.

No library is complete without a copy of this great work. Joseph Campbell is a hero of mine. The power of his mind was mythic, pun intended. He was a humble genius with an infectious sense of humor. His message of myth and meaning came straight from his heart, from his whole being. His agenda for his students and readers alike was to spread his wonder and joy. The wonder and joy of being human. To follow your bliss as he often put it. He was that most unique of modern sages, full of wisdom without being full of himself. He was a bit of a mischievous elf that enjoyed teasing our cultural foibles at nearly every turn, but always with a light touch. I don't know about you but I prefer my lessons about the mystery of life delivered with a wink or a nod. Call me a woos but I like to feel that I am in on the joke. Not that I don't take life seriously, I do. I just try not to take it or myself too seriously, neither did Mr. Campbell. Or as G.K. Chesterton liked to say, "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly". I digress. Mr. Campbell believed that to rightly study the mystery of life a large serving of humility with a dash of humor is required. Dogmatic certainty where existential matters are concerned can all too easily turn into the folly of absolute reductionism. The folly of both Religious and Scientific Materialism. Two sides of the same fundamentalist coin. Mr. Campbell was an orthodox perennial philosopher. One story told a thousand different ways was his way. The way of mythology. The way of mankind's most timeless expressions about the inexpressible. A very literate and wise man that loved to tell stories about the greatest stories ever told. If you want a greater understanding of the correspondence between the world's great myths and the nature of existence then "The Power of Myth" remains a good place to start.

Couple of things, but this one really stands out...all throughout the book Joseph Campbell refers to - out of death comes life, out of life come death. Would this not indicate that birth itself is sacrifice? We are reborn into this life, knowing we will die - knowing that there will come an end to our time of physical being. There are many other sacrifices we make in life - but would birth itself not be the first sacrifice that each and every human participates in? The mother giving birth sacrifices that connection that she had with her child and can no longer have, the child sacrifices the comfort and connection with the mother...and out of that birth the sacrifice of life is being made. Would this not make every new born child a hero? Would this not make every mother a hero?
Another thing....on page 90 - toward the bottom - it is said "the animal gives its life willingly, with the understanding that its life transcends its physical entity and will be returned to the soil or to the mother through some ritual restoration." This would be a willing sacrifice - a connection with all that is. An understanding that death is not the end, and that through its death, life emerges and continues...stronger for its death. Then, on page 91, it is said (concerning the Bushmen and their rituals of the hunt) "After the animal has been shot and is dying painfully of the poison, the hunters have to fulfill certain taboos of not doing this and that in a kind of 'participation mystique', [...]" This, to me is a wonderful acknowledgement of the willing sacrifice of the animal - and an honouring of that sacrifice through a willing personal sacrifice of each hunter to honor that. A going without by the hunters to thank the animal for the gift of life. A life given through a life taken. All of it through the understanding that being transcends just life itself. Would this not make the animal a hero? Decide this for yourself, after reading The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell. A worthwhile read. A book that makes you think.

This is not a scientific paper, and it does not pretend to be one. It is a TV show, watched by both housewives and college professors. Yes, the conversational format occasionally gets repetitive, but it is with purpose, designed for an average lay person watching this on TV, not knowing anything about the subject. As an introduction to the metaphorical thinking about life, religions, history and who we are, it is an interesting and thought provoking talk. As a scientific discourse, well...I don't think PBS would aim that high.

Unfortunately, whenever religion enters scene, it becomes too tough for some to handle. Just because Campbell poetically and metaphorically talks about stuff in a way that is misaligned with the agenda promoted by the organized religions (any of them), he should not be dismissed or even venomously assaulted. You can find plenty of ideas here that will direct you to other sources and start you on a great journey. I've heard people talk bad about Carl Sagan using same justification and verbiage as those attacking Campbell. There is a lot of love here for the mankind, regardless of the creed or color, because Campbell understands that we are all children of the same God (which unfortunately may bother some people). Poets think and speak in metaphors and if you don't dig their language, don't read them.

A suggestion - for a novice to Campbell, perhaps a better intro would be the video version of this interview. More appealing and easier to grasp.

Content: J. Campbell is a comparative scholar of mythologies, so expect many comparecents between world religions. Also note that the book is written in the form of a dialogue- interview.
It is very easy and simple to follow the conversation- the language is not some convoluted elite jargon but simple human language. J. Campbell is obviously an atheist but not in a Nitzschean way. In fact he doesn't preach at all but lets you form your own conclusions about the subject. Some of his analysis of religions is very interesting and enlightening- I bet most christians never thought of the bible as a metaphor. Though, you could say that Campbell is too Platonic- there is a lot of idealism in his conception of the power of myth.
The Point of the Book: The point of this book is to illustrate how a myth is still very much relevant to today's world, in spite of common conception. He doesn't, however, suggest we go back to old beliefs, but rather that we form new ones, foot-in-foot with modern mentality and fast paced world.

Love it. This is one of those books that knocked me out of my shell. I don't necessarily agree with everything he says (who does?) but his views and interpretations opened my mind up to the fact that it is o.k. to have different views and interpretations.
At the very least, he got me to actually look at the stories and symbols in the world and to search deeper for meaning. After all, we are all looking for meaning and it is right in front of us. We really don't have to look too far.
Whether or not you agree with his views, you will never look at the world the same way again. If we all looked at the world the same way, what would we have to talk about?
(FYI: This is an old review under an old email address.
Update: This book radically changed my life and I still revisit it from time to time.
One critique: Campbell notes, almost in passing, that he knows nothing of the Christian faith as practiced in much of the Deep South (i.e. the 'Holy Rollers'). This is a magnificent, vibrant and living faith and Campbell addresses it almost as a footnote. Just goes to show, we can't know everything.
I will say that Campbell may be considered the equivalent of C.S. Lewis in the mythological realm (although Campbell seems to cling a little more tightly to the intellect). Just as with Lewis, certain 'red flags' will appear as you traverse territory unknown, so too will Campbell's works present 'red flags' as you journey. Whether this can be written off as New Age or the perfect type of theology/mythology for the elitist (i.e. understanding without commitment), Campbell's book broadens the scope of our understanding of the power, and signifiance, of myths in our lives)

The Power of Myth is an excellent discussion of life verses mythology, how they connect and how many stories featuring the hero or heroine follow the ancient mythology stories and history of life.

The most memorable discussion is the comparing of Star Wars with ancient mythology. Just the thought of comparing your life or the hero you are reading about with history that people believed makes you view life differently. Not to mention the myths differently. Joseph Campbell views mythology as lessons of life. This thought just makes me want to study mythology even more.

Reading something of Joseph Campbell should be required reading.

It isn't often that one comes across a book that can be referenced again and again. This is probably best described as broad overview of the late Joseph Campbell's best work. For those who are not familiar with the scholar's previous works, including the world renowned "Hero with a Thousand Faces" (which has also been reviewed), this work covers the vast expanse of Campbell's ideas and research over the course of his lifetime. The volumes of his scholarly work may be a bit intimidating to the uninitiated, but for the casual reader who would like a taste of mythology, psychology, art and religion, this work is a great and welcome piece that should belong in every philosopher's library. The conversational style of the writing is very accessable and makes the reader feel as if they are privy to a private talk with the man himself. The breadth of knowledge and humor with which Campbell presents his material is a great way for readers to get the sense of what a lecture from the man was like. This book is the definative work on the subject and has even been condensed down to the bare bones elements by Hollywood screenwriters and playwrights. This work is also available in audio format and on DVD. Overall, a wonderful introduction to Joseph Campbell and his ideas.

Well versed and thought out, this book stands out and has been used in many of todays religion studies. Though some of his points can be perceived as "stretched", he is still a scholar in his field. It seems that the people that often criticize him and his works have little to no experience or education on the subject at hand and do it solely on the fact that it sometimes criticizes the monotony of modern and ancient religion. I recommend this book to everyone. Read the book and make your own educated determination. It could open your eyes and your mind. Or you can close your mind, avoid the book, and start a "crusade" against the author for speaking his opinion.

Joseph Campbell was always a classic storyteller in the traditional sense. People like him used to tell stories around fires to tribes, and now through the miracle of modern technology you can hear him weave his web of stories ranging from myths, legends, philosophies, and art in your own car. The only down side of this is that you must endure Bill Moyers' (the host of the recorded program) idiocies throughout. It's not that Bill Moyers is stupid, he just asks the wrong questions, and, on occasion, you can actually hear Campbell subtly mocking Moyers or growing frustrated with his lack of understanding. Aside from that, a great buy for all philosophy, history, myth, and fantasy lovers.

Written in the form of a transcripted dialogue between Bill Moyers (of PBS) and Joseph Campbell, this book is an anthropological work on the human impulse toward storytelling, the themes of quest and of character development.

And there's something for everyone: For the casual reader, this book is very accessible, full of interesting stories, and not too long. For the more devoted reader, of the kind who likes to dive into a book and surface hours later, this offers a great introduction to Campbell's larger, more complex body of work (ex. Hero with a Thousand Faces). And for those who prefer visual stories, there is also a video version of this dialogues - which is how I first encountered this, while taking a class on American(U.S.) Folklore.

This is one of the treasures of my bookshelf, and I recommend it to people who are interested in mythology, anthropology, psychology, literature, or writing.

This book is astounding, and I had so many moments of clarity when something I sensed, but could not articulate, was so well-expressed in this interview of Joseph Campbell by Bill Moyers. I will be reading more Campbell in the future.

I spent many years as a person of faith before I encountered the perspective that I now identify with Joseph Campbell. The guiding idea of this book, as well as his work overall, is that of discovering the deep principles that are at work in the myths or stories of all cultures. He has challenged me to think anew about the "myth of Christianity" and how it is, in the words of Gordon Kaufman of Harvard Divinity School, "an imaginative human construct."

The most intriguing discussion of the book is reported as a conversation of Campbell with Bill Moyers. In response to Campbell's assertion that he was seeeking "for a centering in terms of deep pinciples," Moyers said, "You are talking about a search for the meaning of life." But Campbell would have none of that. He responds, "No! I am talking about the experience of being alive! People say that what we're seeking is a meaning in life. I don't think that is what we are really seeking. I think that what we are seeking is the experience of being alive so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive."

At this point I want to disagree with Campbell, a choice I make with trepidation. What he is saying doesn't seem anything more than the "will to pleasure," with a dash of ecstasy through in as flavoring. Epicurus didn't convince me and Campbell isn't succeeding either.

But because I have such a genuine respect for the thrust of Campbell's work I knew that I had to think again about the question of the source of meaning. Who is right -- Freud or Adler or Frankl or Campbell? I tend to side with Frankl but there is reason to give other perspectives their due. I understand Campbell's assertion to mean that the "will to pleasure" or "the rapture of being allive" is the heart of the human experience. I doubt that he or Freud can defend that view successfully in a world of such misery. It's a view that is more hopeful than realistic. Not convincing. The darker side of human nature is rejected. Or, at minimun, ignored. Yet the fact that I was confronted in such a way that I had to think my perspective through again is a STRONG recommendation of this book! Read it and enjoy it. The fact it was written several years ago as a report of a television program doesn't lessen its value. Along with "the new cosmology" and the "Jesus Seminar," Campbell's notion of myth has had "a revolutionary impact" on me.

I first heard of Joseph Campbell almost 10 years ago, but I had not read anything of his until I decided to give this book a chance. Am I glad that I did! I read through it very slowly, savoring the wonderful words of Campbell (and his guest Bill Moyers - this was taken from transcripts of a series of interviews). I underlined many passages and wrote several comments in the margins. This will undoubtedly be a book that I turn to again and again. I just found myself nodding over and over and saying "yes!" so many times. This is a must read for anyone that has an interest in their spirituality, whether Pagan, Christian, or other.

I have both the television series and and book transcript. From these I can see Joseph Campbell was a man that had a very persuasive speaking style and made you actually feel comfortable with what he said. He also had a way, when speaking, of smacking people in the face that followed literally these religious concepts without them even knowing it. My favorite Quote from him is, "All religion is true one way or another when understood metaphorically, but when taken literally then your in trouble." The trouble he was talking about is Christians saying your going to hell if you don't believe in Jesus, seperation in families because of diffrent religous philosophies, and and people killing or enslaving other people in the name of what ever god is popular these days. If people could put on the eyes of Campbell and take a new a new look at their holy books, things could become a lot better. Today, not only do we have race, sex and gender to seperate us, but now because of public dreams(As Campbell would say) we have religion.

This is the transcript of the Bill Moyers interview with Joseph Campbell done with him years and years ago-a stunning interview-a stunning book. Readers will enjoy the book format because let's face it-when Crazy Joe Campbell was talking-sometimes we needed more time than which was given to "absorb what was said." From talking about the Great Seal on the American dollar bill and it's mythological connections-to pouring over a letter from Chief Seattle to George Washington about the purchase of land, this book is never uninteresting.
And to give Bill Moyers due credit as well as an excellent journalist who always knows the right question to ask-and whom unlike a lot of journalists today-actually cares about what he is and was covering. In fact, sometimes Moyers says something quite insightful on his own-it is the coming together of two great minds in a question and answer format-that produces the end result of genius-pure genius. If you are unfamiliar with the Bill Moyers interview, I would recommend purchasing it on here, the 6 tapes, or waiting until PBS airs it again-they always do. Afterall, it's one of PBS's all time ratings grabber. The reason I say that is hearing the way Joe Campbell speaks, seeing in flesh just how engaging of a man he is-allows the reader to "imagine him speaking through the book." To me-that makes a huge difference.
This book is a winnner all the way-regardless of what religious background you hail from-what sort of philosophy if any you engage-this book will certainly impress you the reader. It could actually change someone's life in the context of stimulating someone's interest enough in mythology-to begin looking into it. Or, it can broaden your insight into your own spiritual life in of which you have already established. Any way you toss this book up-it's heads. So buy it.

It has been more than a few years since I viewed these interviews on television, and I wanted to read revisit them in printed format. I think I got more by reading even than by viewing since I was able to repeat sections easily. Now when I do watch the videos I feel like I will be able to absorb them better. Campbell was an amazing thinker and teacher and his study of mythology is so important to our understanding of man's place on this planet.

This book is deep. It takes us all back to the beginning of where we all came from. From the same family tree, so to speak. We are all of one planet, one life. Joseph Campbell breaks it down from where we all started. Sitting around campfires in caves expounding on the mystery and terror of life, death and resurrection and where we fit in in the cosmic ballet that is life and all its terrible beauty. Great read... Thanks

The Power of Myth was written to provide another paradigm that you could interpret your existence by. It succeeds. While this is not new, due to the source material being from various era's, the freshness and relevance is unmistakeable. Criticism has been directed at its supposed New Age content. This is terribly unjustified. Christianity has a tendency to label and condemn that which is different from itself, typically this is a reaction to what is perceived as a threat. Subscribing to Campbell's religion/theology/mythology should not be precursor for reading The Power of Myth. Read and interpret your own life under its scope. Recommended for everyone.

Do not begin this book with a closed mind. Joseph Campbell can lead you into a new passage of your life if you are ready for it.
The question and answer format can be, at times, ponderous and tedious, however this is the best introduction to Mr. Campbell's work. There were sections that I longed to be able to interject my own questions following the direction that I felt the conversation was naturally heading, but Mr. Moyers felt that it was going another way. This can be my only complaint.
Mr. Campbell goes into explaining many symbols that saturate our society. Some symbols we are experiencing everyday, but are unconscious of them. This is the collective unconscious of things that we have stored in our collective memory banks. Mr. Campbell attempts to explain some of these. He also draws many parallels between a variety of sources including poetry, literature, and art. This book is an overall culture lesson that everyone needs. The basic "knowledge" that is in-bred in each of us needs to be examined. However, only a small amount of people today even attempt to understand that. My point is, those symbols and experiences are our bonds as human beings. This is important to humanity.
Read this book if you are prepared to dwell on the things that he has put before you. Have a highlighter ready to remind yourself of those most important quotes from the book!

The Power of Myth is a transcription of Bill Moyers' marvelous series of interviews with comparative mythology expert Joseph Campbell. In the Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell asserts that all salient mythological tales suggest a universal, transcendent, and most importantly spiritual reality of the human existence. According to Campbell, myths comprise a vast body of wisdom that recognize the essence of our transcendent existence, and that modern society should not arrogantly dismiss these expositions of the human experience as primitive tall-tales. More tersely, Campbell himself concluded, "Myths are clues to the spiritual potentialities of the human life." (5)

One conspicuous element of this book is Campbell's extraordinary knowledge of myths. Remembering this book is essentially an interview, for Campbell to quickly and successfully invoke myth after myth, tale after tale, book after book with both clarity and exactitude is simply astounding. Using his plethora of mythological invocations, Campbell asserts that one must comprehend religions and myths alike metaphorically rather than literally in order to glean their true significance. Surveying Native American and East Asian myths and religions, Campbell shows the power of symbols in elucidating the truth of those "spiritual potentialities."

However, Campbell seems to have a problematic relationship with monotheisms such as Christianity. Raised a Catholic, he continually suggests the need for the Monotheistic religions - Islam, Judaism, Christianity - to adapt from a dogmatic insistence on literal truth. Indeed, while Campbell constantly uses Christ to evoke the transcendent and spiritual messages of myths/religions, he also teases heresy by suggesting a metaphorical rather than literal significance of Christ. In fact, he asserts that Christ - like Buddha - merely experienced the spiritual being of existence with the greatest of magnitudes. His conspicuous allusions to gnostic descriptions of Christ further intimate what Campbell constantly dances around and what I believe he really wants to and - based on his thesis - should say: the explicit blasphemy that Christ is not the son of God, nor does one get to 'heaven' or 'spiritual bliss' only through him.

Christ is the principal example of another unfortunate trend within Campbell's allusions. This trend is the selective 'hand-picking' of stories and passages of mythological and religious tales/texts that suit Campbell's thesis. With Christ, Campbell discriminately invokes passages and axioms that reaffirm the spiritual/universal motifs of all religious/mythic traditions - "Love thy enemies," or the monistic/gnostic aphorism "He who drinks from my mouth will be as I am, and I shall be he." (69) Such quotations, while appropriate in buttressing Campbell's contention regarding the significance of a symbol, ignore Christ's specific and overt references to messianic stature, divinity, etc. This exclusion is understandable - Campbell does not believe such literal value to religion/myth.

Campbell remains inflexibly averse to acknowledging that many myths do not have this spiritual significance, nor do all myths evoke this spiritual/transcendent essence of human experience. In fact, many myths convey primarily aetiological and historical value, and while any scholar prone to over interpretation can 'infer' all the meaning he/she wants, this does not detract from the truth that not all myths conform to Campbell's thesis. When certain myths do contradict his premise, he simply dismisses them as 'folk tales' rather than myths. (Paul Bunyan is the example Moyers invokes)

Campbell adroitly and poetically ties together many spiritual themes and messages of disparate cultures and beliefs, and while I do believe in his essential premise regarding myth, his flagrant disdain for western society and its materialism does lead to a biased investigation of the past. At one point, Campbell exalts the Iroquois' and north-eastern Indians emphasis on 'return to the source' sacrifice of tribesmen. Telling how these tribes exercised complete and fatal torture upon war captives, and how exhibiting suffering through facial/oral displays was a sign of weakness, he recounts with disgusting admiration such a culture and the story of a young boy who was 'happy' toward such an end. It is this unhealthy nostalgia that leads him to other examples of ludicrous romanticism for the myths/cultures of our albeit more spiritual past. A great example is Campbell's absurd nostalgia for the spiritualism of the middle ages, at which point even Moyers stepped in and contested Campbell's claim, reminding him that the Middle Ages was a terrible and inegalitarian time. Not everything in our past - no matter how spiritual - was good, nor is everything in our present - however materialist - bad.

Ultimately all the faults of Campbell in this book must be forgiven for the simple fact that this book is an interview! Campbell was speaking extemporaneously at times, and could not and did not benefit from the circumspect contemplation, discretion, revision, etc. that one retains when writing at one's own leisure instead of speaking upon another's questioning. In the end, I agree with Campbell: turning our backs on our spiritual past is imprudent, just as is refusing to import spiritual meaning to our material existence simply due to the 'literal' inconsistencies/contradictions of past spiritual expositions and their present personal exponents. We could all benefit from a critical and metaphorical examination of the similarities of myths, which are so alarmingly similar as to suggest either cultural diffusion or the homogeneity of the human psyche. Campbell definitely leans towards the latter. I also agree with Campbell's heretical assertion that the major religions: must adapt, must relinquish their claims to literal truth and physical sovereignty, and must understand that they are one fabric of a vast veil under which lies man's true spiritual being.

I found this book to be quite interesting and running the gamut between challengeing one's ideas about life to how we actually fit in life. This book is packed with life wisdom. The books format is a question and answer format with Joseph Campbell who clearly has spent his life studying the myths which man has chosen to live by. I can see why some people get unglued when they read this book for it is hard to have one's view so closely examined in an objective manner rather than a subjective one. I found I was able to read through it quickly and really understand what the author intended. Give it read, you won't be disapointed.

Joseph Campbell was one of those rare individuals who can steer us in the direction of understanding a little of the inexplicable. No book has had a more profound effect on my life, nor explained better many of the paradoxes of religion and religious beliefs. Campbell lifts the veil from religion to explain clearly that we must strive to understand the metaphor, since any literal interpretation can never guide us to true understanding. For additional related reading on mythology, see Clarissa Pinkola Estes "Women Who Run With the Wolves".

Five stars seem inadequate to rate a book that changed my life so profoundly. It gave me the courage to do the things I always dreamed of doing, but dared not do, as they were contrary to what society considers success.

"Go where your body and soul want to go." Campbell urged. "When you have the feeling, stay with it, and don't let anyone throw you off."

His words spurred me on. As did these,

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. To refuse the call means stagnation."

(Stagnation! Who wants that? A stinky, smelly swamp of a life.)

I worried that the life I wanted held no hope for financial security. But Campbell said not to pity people who have no visible means of support, rather those who have no invisible means of support, nothing to sustain them from within. Furthermore, he added:

"If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you . . . you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. . . . doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be. It's miraculous! Invisible hands will guide you the entire way. "

I found this to be true with amazing accuracy. Everything he writes has been true for me.

Finally, Campbell suggests,

"Read the right books by the right people. Your mind is brought onto that level, and you have a nice, mild, slow-burning rapture all the time."

This is one of those books. Start here.

Due to the fact that this book is just some disjoint interviews compiled together after the author's death, the scope and treatment of the topics are bound to be limited, incoherent, and overlapping at times. This book is not about equal coverage of myths from ALL traditions all over world. If you want just another myth for your own amusement, you would be better off watching TV, if not reading an academic journal. To me, the most important thing to look for in this book is not the discovery that all myths share a common theme, but rather the fact that Campbell took such discovery with great care and dedication. Each time the interviewer (Bill Moyer) hit him with a tough question, Campbell could just counter with a spell-binding tale to illustrate his point with force of wisdom. Moreover, he did not just throw facts and analyses at the readers-- he actually went to great length to explain why he thought the subject was relevant and important to our modern society. THIS kind of message is what a book that targets general audience should try to deliver. Not just information. Not just knowledge. But, more important than anything else, wisdom.

I've looked at the other reveiws of this book and some on other works by Campbell, and I've noticed that those who don't like his books don't understand some of the primary messages they contain. These are things that cannot be explained in 1,000 words so I won't go into it here, but I would recomend reading Alan Watts, Abraham Maslow, Robert Anton Wilson, Hermann Hesse, Aldous Huxley, and Buckminster Fuller. If you still don't get it then you never will from reading a book so you might as well quit. As for the comments about it being New Age crap, I would say read it again...the stories and ideas he addresses are not New at all. They have been asked since the day humans became conscious and will probably be asked until the day we are wiped out. It seems to me that the phrase New Age is derogatory and is used by those who don't understand the ideas. Looking at a New Age section in the book store I see that most of it is Crap (BTW I found this book in the philosophy section) and is probably just a result of people trying to make money, but once in a while there is a book, put there because somebody doesn't understand it, that has a good message and can help people out. Also I want to point out that there is no claim made in this book that cannot be confirmed by science, unless your idea of science is screwed up (feel free to challenge me on this or anything else in the review and I will be happy to look into it).

Basically, transcriptions of a series of really great conversations. Though I can't say I agree with all of his conclusions, Campbell's erudition is astonishing, & it's wonderful fun hearing him hold forth on everything from Jesus & Buddha to John Lennon & Star Wars. This is the best kind of book - one that sends you scuttling off to the library in search of a dozen other titles. Probably the best general introduction I've read on mythology, religion, & their importance in our lives & culture.

This is the transcript of the Bill Moyers interview with Joseph Campbell done with him years and years ago-a stunning interview-a stunning book. Readers will enjoy the book format because let's face it-when Crazy Joe Campbell was talking-sometimes we needed more time than which was given to "absorb what was said." From talking about the Great Seal on the American dollar bill and it's mythological connections-to pouring over a letter from Chief Seattle to George Washington about the purchase of land, this book is never uninteresting.
And to give Bill Moyers due credit as well as an excellent journalist who always knows the right question to ask-and whom unlike a lot of journalists today-actually cares about what he is and was covering. In fact, sometimes Moyers says something quite insightful on his own-it is the coming together of two great minds in a question and answer format-that produces the end result of genius-pure genius. If you are unfamiliar with the Bill Moyers interview, I would recommend purchasing it on here, the 6 tapes, or waiting until PBS airs it again-they always do. Afterall, it's one of PBS's all time ratings grabber. The reason I say that is hearing the way Joe Campbell speaks, seeing in flesh just how engaging of a man he is-allows the reader to "imagine him speaking through the book." To me-that makes a huge difference.
This book is a winnner all the way-regardless of what religious background you hail from-what sort of philosophy if any you engage-this book will certainly impress you the reader. It could actually change someone's life in the context of stimulating someone's interest enough in mythology-to begin looking into it. Or, it can broaden your insight into your own spiritual life in of which you have already established. Any way you toss this book up-it's heads. So buy it.

It has been more than a few years since I viewed these interviews on television, and I wanted to read revisit them in printed format. I think I got more by reading even than by viewing since I was able to repeat sections easily. Now when I do watch the videos I feel like I will be able to absorb them better. Campbell was an amazing thinker and teacher and his study of mythology is so important to our understanding of man's place on this planet.

This book is deep. It takes us all back to the beginning of where we all came from. From the same family tree, so to speak. We are all of one planet, one life. Joseph Campbell breaks it down from where we all started. Sitting around campfires in caves expounding on the mystery and terror of life, death and resurrection and where we fit in in the cosmic ballet that is life and all its terrible beauty. Great read... Thanks

The Power of Myth was written to provide another paradigm that you could interpret your existence by. It succeeds. While this is not new, due to the source material being from various era's, the freshness and relevance is unmistakeable. Criticism has been directed at its supposed New Age content. This is terribly unjustified. Christianity has a tendency to label and condemn that which is different from itself, typically this is a reaction to what is perceived as a threat. Subscribing to Campbell's religion/theology/mythology should not be precursor for reading The Power of Myth. Read and interpret your own life under its scope. Recommended for everyone.

Do not begin this book with a closed mind. Joseph Campbell can lead you into a new passage of your life if you are ready for it.
The question and answer format can be, at times, ponderous and tedious, however this is the best introduction to Mr. Campbell's work. There were sections that I longed to be able to interject my own questions following the direction that I felt the conversation was naturally heading, but Mr. Moyers felt that it was going another way. This can be my only complaint.
Mr. Campbell goes into explaining many symbols that saturate our society. Some symbols we are experiencing everyday, but are unconscious of them. This is the collective unconscious of things that we have stored in our collective memory banks. Mr. Campbell attempts to explain some of these. He also draws many parallels between a variety of sources including poetry, literature, and art. This book is an overall culture lesson that everyone needs. The basic "knowledge" that is in-bred in each of us needs to be examined. However, only a small amount of people today even attempt to understand that. My point is, those symbols and experiences are our bonds as human beings. This is important to humanity.
Read this book if you are prepared to dwell on the things that he has put before you. Have a highlighter ready to remind yourself of those most important quotes from the book!

The Power of Myth is a transcription of Bill Moyers' marvelous series of interviews with comparative mythology expert Joseph Campbell. In the Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell asserts that all salient mythological tales suggest a universal, transcendent, and most importantly spiritual reality of the human existence. According to Campbell, myths comprise a vast body of wisdom that recognize the essence of our transcendent existence, and that modern society should not arrogantly dismiss these expositions of the human experience as primitive tall-tales. More tersely, Campbell himself concluded, "Myths are clues to the spiritual potentialities of the human life." (5)

One conspicuous element of this book is Campbell's extraordinary knowledge of myths. Remembering this book is essentially an interview, for Campbell to quickly and successfully invoke myth after myth, tale after tale, book after book with both clarity and exactitude is simply astounding. Using his plethora of mythological invocations, Campbell asserts that one must comprehend religions and myths alike metaphorically rather than literally in order to glean their true significance. Surveying Native American and East Asian myths and religions, Campbell shows the power of symbols in elucidating the truth of those "spiritual potentialities."

However, Campbell seems to have a problematic relationship with monotheisms such as Christianity. Raised a Catholic, he continually suggests the need for the Monotheistic religions - Islam, Judaism, Christianity - to adapt from a dogmatic insistence on literal truth. Indeed, while Campbell constantly uses Christ to evoke the transcendent and spiritual messages of myths/religions, he also teases heresy by suggesting a metaphorical rather than literal significance of Christ. In fact, he asserts that Christ - like Buddha - merely experienced the spiritual being of existence with the greatest of magnitudes. His conspicuous allusions to gnostic descriptions of Christ further intimate what Campbell constantly dances around and what I believe he really wants to and - based on his thesis - should say: the explicit blasphemy that Christ is not the son of God, nor does one get to 'heaven' or 'spiritual bliss' only through him.

Christ is the principal example of another unfortunate trend within Campbell's allusions. This trend is the selective 'hand-picking' of stories and passages of mythological and religious tales/texts that suit Campbell's thesis. With Christ, Campbell discriminately invokes passages and axioms that reaffirm the spiritual/universal motifs of all religious/mythic traditions - "Love thy enemies," or the monistic/gnostic aphorism "He who drinks from my mouth will be as I am, and I shall be he." (69) Such quotations, while appropriate in buttressing Campbell's contention regarding the significance of a symbol, ignore Christ's specific and overt references to messianic stature, divinity, etc. This exclusion is understandable - Campbell does not believe such literal value to religion/myth.

Campbell remains inflexibly averse to acknowledging that many myths do not have this spiritual significance, nor do all myths evoke this spiritual/transcendent essence of human experience. In fact, many myths convey primarily aetiological and historical value, and while any scholar prone to over interpretation can 'infer' all the meaning he/she wants, this does not detract from the truth that not all myths conform to Campbell's thesis. When certain myths do contradict his premise, he simply dismisses them as 'folk tales' rather than myths. (Paul Bunyan is the example Moyers invokes)

Campbell adroitly and poetically ties together many spiritual themes and messages of disparate cultures and beliefs, and while I do believe in his essential premise regarding myth, his flagrant disdain for western society and its materialism does lead to a biased investigation of the past. At one point, Campbell exalts the Iroquois' and north-eastern Indians emphasis on 'return to the source' sacrifice of tribesmen. Telling how these tribes exercised complete and fatal torture upon war captives, and how exhibiting suffering through facial/oral displays was a sign of weakness, he recounts with disgusting admiration such a culture and the story of a young boy who was 'happy' toward such an end. It is this unhealthy nostalgia that leads him to other examples of ludicrous romanticism for the myths/cultures of our albeit more spiritual past. A great example is Campbell's absurd nostalgia for the spiritualism of the middle ages, at which point even Moyers stepped in and contested Campbell's claim, reminding him that the Middle Ages was a terrible and inegalitarian time. Not everything in our past - no matter how spiritual - was good, nor is everything in our present - however materialist - bad.

Ultimately all the faults of Campbell in this book must be forgiven for the simple fact that this book is an interview! Campbell was speaking extemporaneously at times, and could not and did not benefit from the circumspect contemplation, discretion, revision, etc. that one retains when writing at one's own leisure instead of speaking upon another's questioning. In the end, I agree with Campbell: turning our backs on our spiritual past is imprudent, just as is refusing to import spiritual meaning to our material existence simply due to the 'literal' inconsistencies/contradictions of past spiritual expositions and their present personal exponents. We could all benefit from a critical and metaphorical examination of the similarities of myths, which are so alarmingly similar as to suggest either cultural diffusion or the homogeneity of the human psyche. Campbell definitely leans towards the latter. I also agree with Campbell's heretical assertion that the major religions: must adapt, must relinquish their claims to literal truth and physical sovereignty, and must understand that they are one fabric of a vast veil under which lies man's true spiritual being.

I found this book to be quite interesting and running the gamut between challengeing one's ideas about life to how we actually fit in life. This book is packed with life wisdom. The books format is a question and answer format with Joseph Campbell who clearly has spent his life studying the myths which man has chosen to live by. I can see why some people get unglued when they read this book for it is hard to have one's view so closely examined in an objective manner rather than a subjective one. I found I was able to read through it quickly and really understand what the author intended. Give it read, you won't be disapointed.

Joseph Campbell was one of those rare individuals who can steer us in the direction of understanding a little of the inexplicable. No book has had a more profound effect on my life, nor explained better many of the paradoxes of religion and religious beliefs. Campbell lifts the veil from religion to explain clearly that we must strive to understand the metaphor, since any literal interpretation can never guide us to true understanding. For additional related reading on mythology, see Clarissa Pinkola Estes "Women Who Run With the Wolves".

Five stars seem inadequate to rate a book that changed my life so profoundly. It gave me the courage to do the things I always dreamed of doing, but dared not do, as they were contrary to what society considers success.

"Go where your body and soul want to go." Campbell urged. "When you have the feeling, stay with it, and don't let anyone throw you off."

His words spurred me on. As did these,

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. To refuse the call means stagnation."

(Stagnation! Who wants that? A stinky, smelly swamp of a life.)

I worried that the life I wanted held no hope for financial security. But Campbell said not to pity people who have no visible means of support, rather those who have no invisible means of support, nothing to sustain them from within. Furthermore, he added:

"If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you . . . you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. . . . doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be. It's miraculous! Invisible hands will guide you the entire way. "

I found this to be true with amazing accuracy. Everything he writes has been true for me.

Finally, Campbell suggests,

"Read the right books by the right people. Your mind is brought onto that level, and you have a nice, mild, slow-burning rapture all the time."

This is one of those books. Start here.

Due to the fact that this book is just some disjoint interviews compiled together after the author's death, the scope and treatment of the topics are bound to be limited, incoherent, and overlapping at times. This book is not about equal coverage of myths from ALL traditions all over world. If you want just another myth for your own amusement, you would be better off watching TV, if not reading an academic journal. To me, the most important thing to look for in this book is not the discovery that all myths share a common theme, but rather the fact that Campbell took such discovery with great care and dedication. Each time the interviewer (Bill Moyer) hit him with a tough question, Campbell could just counter with a spell-binding tale to illustrate his point with force of wisdom. Moreover, he did not just throw facts and analyses at the readers-- he actually went to great length to explain why he thought the subject was relevant and important to our modern society. THIS kind of message is what a book that targets general audience should try to deliver. Not just information. Not just knowledge. But, more important than anything else, wisdom.

I've looked at the other reveiws of this book and some on other works by Campbell, and I've noticed that those who don't like his books don't understand some of the primary messages they contain. These are things that cannot be explained in 1,000 words so I won't go into it here, but I would recomend reading Alan Watts, Abraham Maslow, Robert Anton Wilson, Hermann Hesse, Aldous Huxley, and Buckminster Fuller. If you still don't get it then you never will from reading a book so you might as well quit. As for the comments about it being New Age crap, I would say read it again...the stories and ideas he addresses are not New at all. They have been asked since the day humans became conscious and will probably be asked until the day we are wiped out. It seems to me that the phrase New Age is derogatory and is used by those who don't understand the ideas. Looking at a New Age section in the book store I see that most of it is Crap (BTW I found this book in the philosophy section) and is probably just a result of people trying to make money, but once in a while there is a book, put there because somebody doesn't understand it, that has a good message and can help people out. Also I want to point out that there is no claim made in this book that cannot be confirmed by science, unless your idea of science is screwed up (feel free to challenge me on this or anything else in the review and I will be happy to look into it).

Basically, transcriptions of a series of really great conversations. Though I can't say I agree with all of his conclusions, Campbell's erudition is astonishing, & it's wonderful fun hearing him hold forth on everything from Jesus & Buddha to John Lennon & Star Wars. This is the best kind of book - one that sends you scuttling off to the library in search of a dozen other titles. Probably the best general introduction I've read on mythology, religion, & their importance in our lives & culture.

I love this book. It is in question and answer form with Bill Moyers doing the questioning of the author. The author is obviously an expert in very ancient mythology and uses his own innate wisdom to link it to some of the happenings of today....We get to learn from the author the values of knowing the very old ways and the results of not bringing those values forward into modern times, what different symbols used to mean, for example (Solomon's Seal) and what current symbols mean to civilization today, concscienceness, dreams, sacrifice, are examined and other deep and enduring lessons are learned...It is so much more than follow your bliss... you'll enjoy this one

Campbell is an explorer, mystic, philosopher and pioneer of myth. Myth - especially for our country is long forgotten or never was. Campbell delves into myths of other cultures, older parts of the world, ancient - and brings them to life, brings them to bear on who we are today. This book is an eye opener and you may leave with more questions than answers - but this is ok. Every Campbell book is worth your time, and this is no exception.

One of the best books I've ever read. Campbell's insights and interpretations supercede religious doctrines, while fully respecting them. The conversational style of the book makes it a quick read. Bill Moyers' role should not be overlooked. His preparation was impeccable. A great follow-up Campbell book might be "Transformations of Myth Through Time," (ISBN 0-06-096463-4) consisting of 13 lectures. Again, Campbell brings out the similarities among cultures brilliantly and positively.

One of the best books I've ever read. Campbell's insights and interpretations supercede religious doctrines, while fully respecting them. The conversational style of the book makes it a quick read. Bill Moyers' role should not be overlooked. His preparation was impeccable. A great follow-up Campbell book might be "Transformations of Myth Through Time," (ISBN 0-06-096463-4) consisting of 13 lectures. Again, Campbell brings out the similarities among cultures brilliantly and positively.

This book, The Power of Myth, is a slightly expanded and re-edited version of the Moyers/Campbell interviews, now nicely illustrated and organized more or less by general topic or concept. It is not exhaustive, but does give one a taste of what Campbell's life work was all about.

What was it all about? Man's short span on earth, consumed by a search for self-meaning, has generated innumerable stories, myths, symbols and subcontexts, archetypes familiar and unfamiliar, all pointing in generally the same direction, often strikingly similar in nature and tone. Campbell's work in comparitive religion and mythology contrasted and compiled and amazing variety of these, and through his many books charted the course of our search for ourselves, and meaning in the universe. Along the way he discarded more popular notions of organized religion in favor of a more individual path, neatly summarizable as, "Follow your bliss."

The book itself is organized by concept, i.e. the Mother Goddess, the Hero, Love & Marriage, the Journey Inward, and so on, but again and again, through culture after culture, the message resonates the same. These conversations are often insightful, always wide-ranging, and from time to time deeply personal, but always interesting. While by itself this book will teach few people much, they may well steer them to Campbell's much deeper examination of the various topics he here touches upon, and in that sense the book is well worth reading if only to whet the neophytes appetites in that way.

A well done and nicely illustrated volume with plenty to think about and consider.

I read this book for the Philosophy class at my high school my senior year and I've never read anything more knowledgeable, eye-opening, incredible, and captivating as this book. I learned so much. Unfortunately I lost my copy from last year so I'm buying another one. Every time I read it, I learn something else from it. It's basically my bible. This book is incredible and if you pay attention and read other works by the old philosophers mentioned, your appreciation for this book and this life and the meaning of life will go far deeper than you could ever imagine.

I have seen the Joseph Campbell interviews on PBS with Bill Moyers. I loved that series so much that when it came out on video, I rented them to watch again. Never having been privileged to take one of Joseph Campbell's courses at Sarah Lawrence I am deeply grateful that I have the benefit of his knowledge through television and books.
He makes the spiritual images of my childhood's faith come alive with his explanations of the timeless themes of mythology.
Endless facinating; highly recommended!

The Power of Myth is a great introduction to meaningful
literature, but please follow up on the references and read
them for yourself. I use the analogy of a movie critique where
this book will give you an outline of great literature and
you'll know lots of interesting stories but they will be
stories that were important to and interpreted by someone else.
You won't have the full experience without actually
reading them yourself!!! This analogy is not meant to be
disrespectful to Joseph Campbell or take away from the book,
he has drawn a common thread through literature across cultures
and history. Please consider this book as a possible guide through
literature and be ready to have a lot of FUN!!!

I read people here saying Joseph Campbell has anti-semitic and anti-christianity views. This is erroneous. His interpretation of The Bible is the only one that makes sense to me at this day and age, which in fact has reinvigorated my once fading catholic faith (I now go to mass with a new refreshed understanding of its rituals and its psycological implications). Furthermore, his work has made me truly respect, understand, and admire each of the religions of the world bringing all of them into one harmonious picture. As Campbell says: "All religions work!".

Life seems easier after reading Joseph Campbell... I fully recommend The Power Of Myth to every person on Earth... This book, or better yet, the DVD, is the best introduction to Mr. Campbell's fascinating ideas.

I am usually a man of many words, but I will be very concise here.READ THIS BOOK.JUST READ THIS BOOK.If you don't read anything else in your life, READ THIS BOOK.I believe that this book should be mandatory reading for any college philosophy,psychology, or religion course.I believe it is also an asset for artists, musicians and writers.Anyone who deals on a day to day basis with the world of the human mind.Life just made so much more sense to me after I read this book.But beware...if you have been braiwashed in any way by organized religion, you may have to learn to think rationally and clearly before you can get the message in this book.So free your mind, and open a great book.

Despite what some reviewers have stated, this book is very powerful! Joseph Campbell explains the role of mythology so clearly and eloquently that it will change your perceptions. I strongly encourage this book to everyone! In fact, this book is one, like "Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawkins, that requires occasional re-reads to ensure you have truly grasped the concepts presented.
Excellent book! Excellent video series as well.

An amazing read. Ideas and concepts so meaningful and insightful. Nice counterpoint to all the drivel that's out there. Not really self-help but rather leads one to a better understanding of the world and one's place in it. Taps into wisdom of the ages and how it applies to our lives today. Highly readable!

I got alot more out of this book than i thought i would. i often reflect back to this book and new "clicks" happen for me by comparing cultural myths and beliefs. If this book is read in the right frame of mind you can see alot of a bigger human spiritual picture out of it. This is a good read for a tired after work weekday night. Not hard reading soft and entertaining. I would recommend it.

Since this book is basically the transcripts from Bill Moyer's excellent televised interviews with Joseph Campbell, "The Power of Myth" frequently comes off as a "Reader's Digest" coffee table condensation of Campbell's life and work. Since the interview, by its very nature is limited in its scope and focus, "The Power of Myth" simply does not possess the depth of Campbell's other work.
This really is no matter as what is present provides the reader with a fine introduction to Campbell's passionate devotion to World Myth. Campbell's life thesis, that man posseses the innate desire and need to create myth, is a compelling idea the binds us all to ourselves and each other.
"The Power of Myth" is NOT to be taken as a religious tome. In that context, it certainly does come off as a cockeyed New Age concoction of non-commitment. It is meant, however, to be taken as a work of deconstructionist literary criticsm that seeks to celebrate the common threads running through all cultures and perspectives.
Campbell openly celebrates man's ability to imagine as well as his devotion to ideas. He does not seek to debunk or trivialize the devout (one must be careful to realize this as they read Campbell). His scholarly intent as I see it, is to encourage and nurture the seed of faith inherent in all and encourage everyone to embark on their own heroic adventures of discovery.
"The Power of Myth" serves as an excellent bibliography of sorts as it lists the many great folktales and religious texts which demand re-reading. Campbell urges his audience to read for themselves and search for their own discoveries.
If one is searching for a far more in depth study of myth, I cannot praise enough Campbell's excellent "The Hero With A Thousand Faces". As is, "The Power of Myth" is a fine starting point.

Joseph Campbell's, "The Power of Myth," is simply inspirational. It awakens you to perspectives and ways of understanding your life in such a way that there's really no closing those doors once he helps you open them. I find myself continually going back and back to its revealing pages, to bask in my heart's joy of following my bliss. For anyone who considers himself on a spiritual journey, Joseph Campbell's words are a MUST. In-joy.

- As an author myself, I highly recommend that you purchase this book for personal study. "The Power of Myth" is a fascinating book and video that helped me understand philosophical conceptions of cultures worldwide, life, death, and immaterial reality. It got rid of my learned prejudices.

Author. "Knowledge For Tomorrow" Quinton D. Crawford

You are not alone in your quest for understanding. The path has been taken by many before, there are stories and clues to help. This is the message of Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth. This book was my introduction to Mr. Cambell and helped to awaken my sense of wonder and hope. Take the journey.

Joseph Campbell knows his subject, mythology and religious stories, so well that you can tell it has become instinctual for him to tie all the world's imagery and symbology together in a way that connects human beings in a truly transcendent way. This book clarifies how similar we all really are, at the core of our beings, despite where we live and in what millenia we are living in. So full of rich, thought-provoking conversation, I would recommend this to everyone, from young to old. It is just an awesome book that makes you fall in love with humans and human nature -- bad and good alike.

This is a moving, inspiring collection of excerpts from an interview with Joseph Campbell done by Bill Moyers. You get a lovely overview of Campbell's study and works that makes you want to delve further into his other writing.

For four years now I've been studying mythology, and kept putting aside Campbell's work, saying 'I'll get it next month.' Well- finally I purchased this book, and I was just amazed. His insight into mythological stories and how it relates to our lives surpasses anyone else I've read. What I got from this book: an appreciation of just how much the peoples in the world have in common; and a greater awareness that we are all part of a life force much greater than imagined.

Joseph Campbell in this interview, exposes his broad knowledge of world's religions and pulls out passages from different sacred books. Some of the conclusion he gets too are comprehensible, yet others are a little foggy.

Makes my short list of 20 books everyone person should read. If you are going to read only one Josepg Campbell, this is a great one. Helps your perspective on life, religion and the culture we live in. One of the great unconventional thinkers of the last 50 years.

This book consists of an amazing conversation on the power of mythology in our lives between the late Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. Both men are great thinkers, asking thoughtful questions to come to amazing answers. A truly grand study of myth throughout the world, it is quite simply not to be missed.

Since this book is basically the transcripts from Bill Moyer's excellent televised interviews with Joseph Campbell, "The Power of Myth" frequently comes off as a "Reader's Digest" coffee table condensation of Campbell's life and work. Since the interview, by its very nature is limited in its scope and focus, "The Power of Myth" simply does not possess the depth of Campbell's other work.
This really is no matter as what is present provides the reader with a fine introduction to Campbell's passionate devotion to World Myth. Campbell's life thesis, that man posseses the innate desire and need to create myth, is a compelling idea the binds us all to ourselves and each other.
"The Power of Myth" is NOT to be taken as a religious tome. In that context, it certainly does come off as a cockeyed New Age concoction of non-commitment. It is meant, however, to be taken as a work of deconstructionist literary criticsm that seeks to celebrate the common threads running through all cultures and perspectives.
Campbell openly celebrates man's ability to imagine as well as his devotion to ideas. He does not seek to debunk or trivialize the devout (one must be careful to realize this as they read Campbell). His scholarly intent as I see it, is to encourage and nurture the seed of faith inherent in all and encourage everyone to embark on their own heroic adventures of discovery.
"The Power of Myth" serves as an excellent bibliography of sorts as it lists the many great folktales and religious texts which demand re-reading. Campbell urges his audience to read for themselves and search for their own discoveries.
If one is searching for a far more in depth study of myth, I cannot praise enough Campbell's excellent "The Hero With A Thousand Faces". As is, "The Power of Myth" is a fine starting point.

Joseph Campbell's, "The Power of Myth," is simply inspirational. It awakens you to perspectives and ways of understanding your life in such a way that there's really no closing those doors once he helps you open them. I find myself continually going back and back to its revealing pages, to bask in my heart's joy of following my bliss. For anyone who considers himself on a spiritual journey, Joseph Campbell's words are a MUST. In-joy.

- As an author myself, I highly recommend that you purchase this book for personal study. "The Power of Myth" is a fascinating book and video that helped me understand philosophical conceptions of cultures worldwide, life, death, and immaterial reality. It got rid of my learned prejudices.

Author. "Knowledge For Tomorrow" Quinton D. Crawford

You are not alone in your quest for understanding. The path has been taken by many before, there are stories and clues to help. This is the message of Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth. This book was my introduction to Mr. Cambell and helped to awaken my sense of wonder and hope. Take the journey.

Joseph Campbell knows his subject, mythology and religious stories, so well that you can tell it has become instinctual for him to tie all the world's imagery and symbology together in a way that connects human beings in a truly transcendent way. This book clarifies how similar we all really are, at the core of our beings, despite where we live and in what millenia we are living in. So full of rich, thought-provoking conversation, I would recommend this to everyone, from young to old. It is just an awesome book that makes you fall in love with humans and human nature -- bad and good alike.

This is a moving, inspiring collection of excerpts from an interview with Joseph Campbell done by Bill Moyers. You get a lovely overview of Campbell's study and works that makes you want to delve further into his other writing.

For four years now I've been studying mythology, and kept putting aside Campbell's work, saying 'I'll get it next month.' Well- finally I purchased this book, and I was just amazed. His insight into mythological stories and how it relates to our lives surpasses anyone else I've read. What I got from this book: an appreciation of just how much the peoples in the world have in common; and a greater awareness that we are all part of a life force much greater than imagined.

Joseph Campbell in this interview, exposes his broad knowledge of world's religions and pulls out passages from different sacred books. Some of the conclusion he gets too are comprehensible, yet others are a little foggy.

Makes my short list of 20 books everyone person should read. If you are going to read only one Josepg Campbell, this is a great one. Helps your perspective on life, religion and the culture we live in. One of the great unconventional thinkers of the last 50 years.

This book consists of an amazing conversation on the power of mythology in our lives between the late Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. Both men are great thinkers, asking thoughtful questions to come to amazing answers. A truly grand study of myth throughout the world, it is quite simply not to be missed.

The Power of Myth is inspiring. One holds it in one's hand and feels that somewhere inside it the great riddle of life awaits awakening, and for each of us a unique journey, a myth of one's own, and redemption. The redeption of the knowledge of being alive, or what Campbell writes "the experience of being alive". (3) If being a hero according to Campbell is giving your life to "something bigger than oneself", Campbell is a hero himself. (151)

For anyone interested in life, history, phychology, culture ...the human experience...this is a "must". Joseph Campbell articulates how the underlying currents of our experience(internal & external)are reflected both individually and in masses through our mythology; where we've come from and where we're going. He does so with the expertise of a teacher who has the ability to reach into everyone from the novice to the expert and inject excitement into the subject.

I have had many, many copies of this book over the years, and gave them away to people who needed to read it. Now I have a Kindle, and I need it on here. This book will move you...it really will. Buy it...and his others too.

His religious beliefs overwhelm this work, and it's sometimes tiresome, as is his selective memory of history. (I.e., Jesus's primary teaching is "love your enemies?" Please! That's a commandment: an output of Jesus's teaching that are all lost, need him for salvation, etc.)
But Campbell is a magnificent story teller, and if you can get past (or choose to believe) his "All is God" beliefs, then you'll find those stories are a joy to read. The book is beautifully put together.

I was riveted, yet again, when watching PBS this weekend and Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell. This conversation really ties Campbell's studies and other studies (Jung, for one) and studies I've made of religions and Anthropology from college. It's wonderful! Imagine how Professor Campbell would enjoy Harry Potter, if he were still with us, today! God bless him! God bless Bill Moyers, too!

A fine interview between two of the best in their profession and life's work. A book that is needed for all to examine their beliefs and understand the power of belief and faith in the human experience.

Because this book has a conversational format as it consists of a series of interviews between Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers, there are points where it becomes a bit repetitive. While Campbell makes some important points about the nature of myths and mythology in all human societies, I found that he often seems to overstate the obvious. Indeed, much of what Campbell says about myths, symbols and the human unconscious has already been covered with more intelligence and clarity by psychologist Carl Jung. Campbell generally refrains from discussing modern, political mythology - even though his general argument about the socializing nature of myths would seem to demand consideration of this aspect. Moyers probably meant for these interviews to serve as a showcase for Campbell's philosophy of life and as such he was too indulgent, rarely prodding Campbell to more fully explain some of his views. Thus, we never really get much more than Campbell repeatedly telling us to "follow our bliss." I think `Sesame Street' communicates a more sophisticated message than that. At other places, Campbell's views are genuinely disturbing. For example, he said it is "totally improper" and even "obscene" to "judge people in terms of civil law for performances that they rendered in time of war." Moyers, once more shirking his journalistic duty, didn't press him on this matter - like asking him his opinion of the Nuremberg trials. To me Campbell's statement reads like a pseudo-philosophical justification for atrocities of all sorts. Whatever Campbell's merits as an expert on myths/mythology, he was far from being a clear-headed philosopher, and this comes out in this book.

The Power of Myth is an extremely informative and interesting read. Though the subject matter could lend itself to be heavy going and complex this was not the case with this book. It is well written and therefore easy to understand especially for those who are researching Myth as a beginner. A very good read indeed.

This is a great book! Written as a dialog between Campbell and award winning journalist, Bill Moyers, this book is a very easy read. I kept it by my bedside for a few weeks and read in the evenings, imagining a time past when story-telling was an importan tool for developing social order and values...

Jospeh Campbell's treasured legacy is sublimely captured on this CD set. Not only does the listener have access to the amazing spiritual and societal insights of this great teacher and scholar, in addtion, there is a feeling of real intimacy and connection with the personality and spirit of Joseph Campbell.

The single best book I have ever read. Joseph Campbell's understanding of his subject matter is unbelievable. But even more amazing is his ability to translate it into lessons and stories that are easily understandable by the reader. This is a book that will give you new insights every time you read it. An incredible work.

I haven't been able to put it down. I have always heard of Campbell's importance, but it wasn't until I read the first few pages of "The Power of Myth" that I even caught a glimpse of the incredible insight his work provides. Essential reading for anyone.

Wonderful audio presentation of the Bill Moyer interview with Joseph Campbell. We originally checked it out from the library for a road trip, but just had to have our own copy. Listened to it twice on a recent cross-country road trip.

Joseph Campbell is simply eloquent as he tells of stories from every culture and every time in history. These stories always get to the heart of what it means to be human and alive. The stories teach us to look beyond a named religion and toward a truth about the experience of living!

Very simply put I categorically can
say that when I opened this book it
was like entering an enlightened world.
Joseph Campbell's intellect spoke lucidly and
Bill Moyer's insightful questions made this
book a journey worth taking.

If you are open to the concept of all religions being wrong in the details but right in the underlying principle, this book is for you. If you are close-minded and need to keep your foundation unshaken, leave this book alone.

[Note: This review is for the Audio version of interviews for this work with Bill Moyers.]

"The Power of Myth" is a deeply confused work. After listening to Campbell, one is tempted to describe him as a man who knows, "The myths of everything and the value of nothing."

He clearly knows a lot of the world's myth, but the connections between them are arbitrary and lacking unity. He certainly doesn't take sides culturally, yet occasionally, reflexively, he uses western terms that betray horror at some of the more primitive cannibalistic rituals of a given myth. He cannot be consistently non-judgmental and use a descriptive like "horror" to describe the ceremony.

He acknowledges the ethical nature of the Abrahamic religions, but treats this as a mere curiosity, and despite his occasional lapses in looking through a Judeo-Christian lens, he ultimately embraces pantheism. It's the same old dilemma: if one denies the existence or importance of a moral compass, one cannot then start giving directions.

The links Campbell finds in myth are existential oddities without any consistent moral or ethical worldview in which to sort them out. One shouldn't be surprised to find *Desire* a common thread in world mythology; it would be surprising if one didn't find it.

The primary problem is that he drops everything into a mythological solvent that results in equating a historical figure like, say, Jesus Christ with a purely fictional ones like Isis, Osiris, and Horace.

In Campbell's hands, myths are simply Tinker-Toys that are re-arranged to mean whatever is momentarily convenient...and with a hardy splash of mystic food coloring.

I began reading JC books in the late 80's and could not get enough. The PBS Series still holds my interest and attention.
Having lost my copy of the original transcripts I purchased this edition without regard to the Editor and find this edition and this editing misses something from the original.
I am sure it will serve many that are unfamiliar with JC, but I want the un-edited version as it changed my life forever.

I got the book title from looking at a television programme and now, having read the book, I wonder how I've lived so long (I'm 61) without ever having heard of Joseph Campbell. Anyway, it's a great book by a great man and it arrived, as is usual for the store, in mint condition. So thank you.

This is written in an "interview" form. I probably would get more out of the DVD format. It has very interesting comparisons of our life to mythology. Although very interesting, some ideas seem a little far-fetched.

Someone recommended this book to me. I was disappointed. I was familiar with most of the myths, especially American Indian, Egyptian and Indian, but if the author was trying to prove there is a god, it just showed me that even earliest humans had vivid imaginations and a need to explain existence.

It is good at least for understanding the highbrow self-inflated types. Campbell is the quintessential contrarian peddling his opinion as if it is fact. Know that evidence must be interpreted and that interpretation is not monolithic. Depending on your world view the observations and points of view can be made to tell any story. Campbell is telling his story without opening up to potential alternatives.

Professor Campbell had a broad knowledge of mythology and religion, but his analytical skills were dulled by his philosophical commitment to nondualism (or pantheistic monism), which he uses as a Procrustean bed: all symbolism and religion is interpreted along the lines that "we are one with the nondual transcendent" that lies at the core of our being. However, monotheistic religions have never taught this, and this alien worldview cannot be read into their scriptures.
Nondualism is also philosophically flawed since it denies the reality of finite entities and experiences as finally real. If all is one and all is God, why do so many humans experience themselves as finite, contingent, and subject to death and decay?
Nondualism, furthermore, disallows the reality of evil. Good and evil disappear into the nondual. But any worldview that denies the objectivity of evil is philosophically and existentially bancrupt. What of the terrorists who immolated themselves and three thousand others on September 11, 2001. Were these terrorists not evil?
Lastly, Campbell claims that God is beyond logic and language. But this doesn't stop him from making statements about what he claims is ineffable--utterly beyond any statement. This is contradictory and, therefore, false.
There is another worldview that recognizes the reality of finite and sorrowful existence, that knows and honors the difference between good and evil, and which is based on the self-disclosure of a personal and transcendent God. It is called Christianity.
Douglas Groothuis

A more popular look at myths and mythology, using this format to relate Campbell's studies and other works to mythological type influences that we see today, even in major media and popular culture or entertainment situations.

When Campbell points it out, you sometimes realise what you are subconsciously missing.

The single best book I have ever read. Joseph Campbell's understanding of his subject matter is unbelievable. But even more amazing is his ability to translate it into lessons and stories that are easily understandable by the reader. This is a book that will give you new insights every time you read it. An incredible work.

I got this book because I'm interested in myths and legends. How they teach and interact with us, but what it is, is just a extended interview. It is boring, and that's not any easy thing to accomplish when you have such an interesting topic.

Repetitious exploration of similarities and differences between ideas various cultures devise to try to explain life, death and the cosmos. Perhaps useful for those interested in comparative sociology. Probably annoying to those with intense religious convictions who think their ideas are true and that those with different ideas must be converted or killed.

I didn't read this, my daughter did, for school. She disliked the book immensely. So bad in fact that her English grade dropped two letter grades over it. She said it was boring, and difficult to get involved in. Apparently the book is written as an interview. I don't know if that will help anyone else but, there it is.

Anybody contemplating the purchase of this book should know some of the history behind it.

Joseph Campbell, a professor at Sarah Lawrence College, made the study of comparative mythology his life work. It has been credibly argued that Campbell's chief aim in his work was to counter the "decadence" of civilizations based on the Old & New Testament. Fine so far as that goes, but the implication is, of course, and the charge against Campbell for years has been that, he is both Anti-Semitic and Anti-Christian. Futhermore a prospective reader should know that this book was launched in coordination with a Bill Moyers produced PBS series in the late 1980's. In that series Moyers acted the part of a journalist in interviewing Campbell but failed to disclose well-known concern's about Cambell's alleged Anti-Semitism. If that were not bad enough, a prospective buyer should know that in producing the series (with the help of Uncle Sam through public television subsidies) Moyers entered into a contract to share in the profits from sales of this book (at least while it was still published by Doubleday).

Moyers, a liberal Democrat (he was Lyndon Johnson's Press Secretary and Chief of Staff), despite being a trained seminarian has made numerous public statements about the threat to democracy posed by the "Religious Right" getting involved in politics. However, as his affiliation with Campbell demonstrates Moyers is not just opposed to Christianity influencing politics, he is opposed to Christianity (and Judaism) influencing culture. Clearly Moyers (and probably Campbell) are rabid God-hating secular-humanists, disguised as moderate, and even semi-religious (in the case of Moyers) liberals. (For more on this see "PBS: Behind the Screen" by Laurence Jarvik available on the store.com).

In THE POWER OF MYTH, Campbell says, "Read myths. They teach you that you can turn inward, and you begin to get the message of the symbols." My area of expertise is Greek myth, and Campbell never grasped the meaning of any of those symbols himself. Campbell says there was no first couple in an ancient paradise, yet Greek artists depicted Athena as being born full-grown out Zeus: a picture of Eve being born full-grown out of Adam. They also called Eden the Garden of the Hesperides and always depicted it with a serpent-entwined apple tree. Campbell says there was no Flood, yet the Greeks depicted it often as a man named KAINEUS (the line of Kain) being pounded into the earth by Kentaurs (the line of Seth). They also depicted Noah as a man they called Nereus (the Wet One), often giving him the bottom half of a fish to show he had come through the Flood.

Reading this Moyers/Campbell dialogue is a waste of time for truth-seekers. Campbell didn't grasp the meaning of his own subject, and Moyers didn't grasp that Campell didn't know what he was talking about. I recommend THE PARTHENON CODE: MANKIND'S HISTORY IN MARBLE. It teems with true understanding of ancient "myths".

The greatest problem with this book is Mr. Campbell's insistence on looking at myths only through their similarities and never their differences. This creates a false view that a universality exists within the world's myths. He also makes claims that he provides no evidence for. Occasionally, he makes self-refuting statements. For example, Mr. Campbell knows that he doesn't know or that something exists and doesn't exist at the same time in the same way. This book is less than helpful.

However, this back-and-forth with Bill Moyer helped me to see how Mr. Moyer came to his currently held world view...and I only feel pity for the man. (I do not mean this in a condescending way.)

Power of Myth is one of the driest most uninteresting books I have ever read. Not only does it completely have no point, it is not in the least bit interesting. I would never recommend it to anybody for enjoyment or a class. I think Power of Myth is good only for a college doctorate class in myth. I can think of endless things I would change throughout this book to make it more interesting, but clearly that wasn't the authors objective.

Repetitious exploration of similarities and differences between ideas various cultures devise to try to explain life, death and the cosmos. Perhaps useful for those interested in comparative sociology. Probably annoying to those with intense religious convictions who think their ideas are true and that those with different ideas must be converted or killed.

I didn't read this, my daughter did, for school. She disliked the book immensely. So bad in fact that her English grade dropped two letter grades over it. She said it was boring, and difficult to get involved in. Apparently the book is written as an interview. I don't know if that will help anyone else but, there it is.

Anybody contemplating the purchase of this book should know some of the history behind it.

Joseph Campbell, a professor at Sarah Lawrence College, made the study of comparative mythology his life work. It has been credibly argued that Campbell's chief aim in his work was to counter the "decadence" of civilizations based on the Old & New Testament. Fine so far as that goes, but the implication is, of course, and the charge against Campbell for years has been that, he is both Anti-Semitic and Anti-Christian. Futhermore a prospective reader should know that this book was launched in coordination with a Bill Moyers produced PBS series in the late 1980's. In that series Moyers acted the part of a journalist in interviewing Campbell but failed to disclose well-known concern's about Cambell's alleged Anti-Semitism. If that were not bad enough, a prospective buyer should know that in producing the series (with the help of Uncle Sam through public television subsidies) Moyers entered into a contract to share in the profits from sales of this book (at least while it was still published by Doubleday).

Moyers, a liberal Democrat (he was Lyndon Johnson's Press Secretary and Chief of Staff), despite being a trained seminarian has made numerous public statements about the threat to democracy posed by the "Religious Right" getting involved in politics. However, as his affiliation with Campbell demonstrates Moyers is not just opposed to Christianity influencing politics, he is opposed to Christianity (and Judaism) influencing culture. Clearly Moyers (and probably Campbell) are rabid God-hating secular-humanists, disguised as moderate, and even semi-religious (in the case of Moyers) liberals. (For more on this see "PBS: Behind the Screen" by Laurence Jarvik available on the store.com).

In THE POWER OF MYTH, Campbell says, "Read myths. They teach you that you can turn inward, and you begin to get the message of the symbols." My area of expertise is Greek myth, and Campbell never grasped the meaning of any of those symbols himself. Campbell says there was no first couple in an ancient paradise, yet Greek artists depicted Athena as being born full-grown out Zeus: a picture of Eve being born full-grown out of Adam. They also called Eden the Garden of the Hesperides and always depicted it with a serpent-entwined apple tree. Campbell says there was no Flood, yet the Greeks depicted it often as a man named KAINEUS (the line of Kain) being pounded into the earth by Kentaurs (the line of Seth). They also depicted Noah as a man they called Nereus (the Wet One), often giving him the bottom half of a fish to show he had come through the Flood.

Reading this Moyers/Campbell dialogue is a waste of time for truth-seekers. Campbell didn't grasp the meaning of his own subject, and Moyers didn't grasp that Campell didn't know what he was talking about. I recommend THE PARTHENON CODE: MANKIND'S HISTORY IN MARBLE. It teems with true understanding of ancient "myths".

The greatest problem with this book is Mr. Campbell's insistence on looking at myths only through their similarities and never their differences. This creates a false view that a universality exists within the world's myths. He also makes claims that he provides no evidence for. Occasionally, he makes self-refuting statements. For example, Mr. Campbell knows that he doesn't know or that something exists and doesn't exist at the same time in the same way. This book is less than helpful.

However, this back-and-forth with Bill Moyer helped me to see how Mr. Moyer came to his currently held world view...and I only feel pity for the man. (I do not mean this in a condescending way.)

Power of Myth is one of the driest most uninteresting books I have ever read. Not only does it completely have no point, it is not in the least bit interesting. I would never recommend it to anybody for enjoyment or a class. I think Power of Myth is good only for a college doctorate class in myth. I can think of endless things I would change throughout this book to make it more interesting, but clearly that wasn't the authors objective.

Reviewer Michael J. Edelman wrote of this book, "With Campbell as the putative sage and Moyers as his fawning acolyte, they put on a show that's a parody of Socratic dialogue." How true!
The ultimate contradiction in this sadly sacrosanct book of sophomoric sophistry is the statement to Campbell by Moyers, who has often claimed to be a Christian: "Far from undermining my faith, your work in mythology has liberated my faith from the cultural prisons to which it had been sentenced." Campbell was an atheist and a Darwinist. Note to Bill Moyers: there are no slime-snake-monkey people in the body of Christ. We're all descended from the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, through Noah and his wife. Did you get mixed up, Bill, and think Campbell was the apostle Paul?
I've spent years researching ancient art. My findings, including image after image of the art itself (what I like to call "evidence"), appear in these books Athena and Eden: The Hidden Meaning of the Parthenon's East Facade,Athena and Kain: The True Meaning of Greek Myth,The Parthenon Code: Mankind's History in Marble, and Noah in Ancient Greek Art.
None of Campbell's work was of any help at all to me in gaining a true understanding of what our ancestors were communicating to us in their art and literature. He didn't grasp the simple point that, for the most part, ancient art depicts HISTORY, not myth. Campbell's books lead away from truth, not toward it.