"Myths to Live By" is one of those books which makes me wish I did not have to assign a star rating. For while it is, as the title of this review suggests, a very eloquent and powerful exposition of the Myth that forms the bones of our Psyche, Campbell clearly has some predjudices that make some of his points difficult to see.

First, however, I shall focus on the positve aspects of the work. Campbell begins his book with a story about the conflict between a myth (in this case the story of Adam and Eve) and the facts discovered by science. The little anecdote serves to present the key thesis of the book: that our old religious idea that myths are literally true is no longer servicable, and that we must now, in an age where the world is coming together in ways unprecendented, seek the pattern that underlies all myths and discover our oneness as a species. Campbell explains why myth and ritual are neccesary in concrete, psycholgical terms. If there are no myths, individuals will become alienated from their society, since myths contain affect images that speak to not the rational mind, but the psyche. His argument is essensially Jungian in tone. Through a comparitive look at the worlds "major" religions, he shows how all myths are variations on the theme of self discovery and rebirth as a person engaged with the Universe and society.

All that is wonderful. What is not wonderful, however, is the vaugley reactionary tone underlying some of the books passages. Campbell seems to share the imperialist view that all of human history naturally culminates in modern, technological, Western Civilization. He dismisses the youth movement of the time he wrote this book (the sixties to early seventies) as folly. The cultural contribution of "Beat" poets such as Ginsberg an Kerouak is completley ignored. In fact, the "Beats" are never even mentioned when Campbell throws out an all encompassing statement like "we have no artists...of such power today".

Equally troubling is the statement that "all life is suffering, all societies are opressive, and we just have to learn to live with it". Now, while it may be true that life is sorrowful and that social orders have, throughout history, tended to be unjust, it does not follow that we have to accept the latter fact with the same passivity as the former. As Campbell points out, we make the choices that determine the direction of our society. If everyone, or a strong majority at least, were able to come to the understanding of universal Myth and Divinity, the opression that exists today would decrease, if not dissapear. The book comes to a climax with an expose of the mythic dimensions of the first moon walk. The chapter illustrates how we are indeed one planet and one species. Juxtoposed with "all societies are opressive, and we just have to live with it" however, the chapter's beauty becomes terror. In this light, the chapter is a prophecy of slavery, not oneness.

Still, this is a very important book, marred as all great works are by the author's prejudices. When reading this book, remember Buddha's finger pointing at the moon, and which one was more important.

I was lucky enough to meet Joseph Campbell in the 1980s when he lectured at Salve Regina in Newport, Rhode Island. Campbell, America's premier mythologist, spoke for just under an hour and just that short amount of time, he had me hooked. In the years that followed, I read many of his works and found that his writings have gradually shaped my own thoughts and greatly influenced my own career as a history teacher. He has opened my eyes to many of our common experiences as human beings and now I find that when I look at people and their cultures, I see more commonalities and fewer differences. Meaning no disrespect to those immersed in diversity, I prefer to see things that people have in common. Campbell did that.

Myths to Live By is a great introduction to the works of a great writer. Read them, think about them, React to them. It's time well spent by anyone.

This as all of Joseph Campbell’s work, shining a spotlight on the less discussed topics behind our popular recreation in myths, religions, and the communities that they nurture. Giving fodder for more creative symbolism in the work that we do.

This book reads like an essential afterword to the great video series. The chapters on mythologies of love, and of war and peace are especially effective. Campbell's teaching is direct, and honed to a useful, beautiful glow. He's a courageous thinker, able to order considerable insights with impeccable ease. Leaves us the richer. He's hailed for the scope of his vision, yet it's the inevitable intimacy of Campbell's teaching genius that makes his books so effective. Read this book and find a realm vaster and more intimate than one that brung ya! --that's effective spiritual reading, the fruit of clearly intense scholarship, and Campbell makes it immediate and consoling. Delivers what it promises. It's difficult to be disappointed by stuff this fine.

I have read of myths and legends all my life. Mr. Campbell is way above my rating him, but I enjoyed so much his descriptions of comparable religions;myths of the soul, the wonder of the unknowable. Man through his eyes, his incomparable research, and his way of showing that all men speak the same language pulls you, as reader, into his world. We all have a deep need to know and it is fascinating to think we have made up many of the same myths without contact with each other. I love Mr. Campbells' work and will go on reading, hoping to be pulled into his mind. Thanks for all the traveling you, Mr. Campbell, had to make to get the material for this wonderful endeavor.

Man is a storytelling animal who gains his sense of identity and purpose from the stories that are handed down to him from his society. If you want to deepen your understanding of the human experience without suffering through incomprehensibly dense philosophy, this is an excellent book to read. One example is below:

"Myths are the mental supports of rites; rites, the physical enactments of myths. By absorbing the myths of his social group and participating in its rites, the youngster is structured to accord with his social as well as natural environment, and turned from an amorphous nature product, prematurely born, into a defined and competent member of some specific, efficiently functioning social order."

This is simple, clear and profoundly true. Such nuggets of wisdom are found on virtually every page of this book which I highly recommend.

Excellent service

Joseph Campbell was obviously a special person with a deep and profound interest in mythology, and reading this small sampling of his speeches and papers was a treat. I wasn't expecting to find myself so interested in what he had to say regarding the world's various myths, but Mr. Campbell's insights into human nature and religion compelled me to crack a smile numerous times as I was reading this book. Revelations abound in these pages, but be warned: if you are a fundamentalist adherent to one of the Abrahamic religions, you probably won't enjoy it nearly as much as someone with an open mind will. Campbell makes the case that religions and mythologies are merely reflections of the hidden human psyche, and he makes his case well. Anyone interested in theology (from an academic standpoint) would be doing themselves a disservice by not reading what Campbell had to say about mythology and it's role in society.

A book of Joseph Campbell that one reads as if one were at a speech. Not always easy reading, but always rewarding.

An inspiring man! Campbell manages to combine science and storytelling all the while writing an entertaining and humorous book. Thumbs up!

Libro culto meraviglioso da leggere nella vita! Per giovani filosofi !

Plenty of deep ideas about Eastern vs Western philosophy to get you thinking.

I haven't read any of Joseph Campbell for some time nevertheless his work ever present. His works and wisdom were a key to understanding the trap of religion, escaping it and embracing spirituality.

Great through this work to get reaquainted and to hear Campbells voice once more