Myths to Live by by Joseph Campbell

Myths to Live by (Paladin Books) (Compass) (Condor Books)

by Joseph Campbell

"There is no one quite like Joseph Campbell. He knows the vast sweep of man's panoramic past as few men have evern known it." -The Village Voice

What is a properly functioning mythology and what are its functions? Can we use myths to help relieve our modern anxiety, or do they help foster it? In Myths to Live by, Joseph Campbell explores the enduring power of the universal myths that influence our lives daily and examines the myth-making process from the primitive past to the immediate present, retuning always to the source from which all mythology springs: the creative imagination.

Campbell stresses that the borders dividing the Earth have been shattered; that myths and religions have always followed the certain basic archetypes and are no longer exclusive to a single people, region, or religion. He shows how we must recognize their common denominators and allow this knowledge to be of use in fulfilling human potential everywhere.

Reviewed by jamiereadthis on

4 of 5 stars

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The title and tagline to this are so self-helpish that, as self-help rightly should, it makes you want to run for the hills and break out in hives. When, no: this book should cause the opposite reaction. Scarf this one up, gulp this one down. The self-help bullshit is so toxic and this is just the opposite.

It’s what Daniel said, Campbell can run fast and far afield sometimes but when he brings it home it’s dead-on.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 24 November, 2012: Finished reading
  • 24 November, 2012: Reviewed