Myths to Live By

"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.

Opening a book by Joseph Campbell is like emerging from a cave and seeing the world for the first time. It is not a light read, but it is well worth the effort. Have you ever wondered why the tale of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty resonates as deeply with your daughter as it did to children four centuries ago, or why Beowulf, The Illiad, and The Odessey, stories so old that they cannot be traced to their source, are reinterpreted generation after generation?Campbell's idea is simple. The stories that we love and that we tell are what define us. We must all, for example, come to terms with the fact that we kill plants and animals in order to live. We must all explain what lies beyond death, and why we have been given the gift of life. We need to know what is worth living for and what is worth dying for.This book is not for the devoutly religious. Campbell uses religion and myth as synonyms and gives equal credence to Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and plains Indian religious beliefs. The truth here was not written by an angry God on large stone tablets; it is found in the stories that we tell ourselves and our children.Campbell examines the way people around the world have dealt with these questions and what happens when the myths we live by are swept away and replaced by nothing.In many ways, this book is like a rich cheesecake. It cannot be consumed all at once. It needs to be savored a little at a time, and digested before moving on.

This text provided the mythological insights I was seeking for my research into rituals and the human condition. These timeless tales, reflections, and allegorical traditions helped me to produce conceptual frameworks for my research study. This is definitely a great addition to my library and my research study. Excellent!!!!

I have been reading Campbell since the late '80s and have watched the Videos "The Power of Myth," "Mythos," and "Transformation of Myth through Time," read "Hero with 1000 Faces" and other of his books, and have listened to many of his taped lectures -- many times. This book is a sampler of his talks, put out by the JC foundation. The problem with this book is one that he never really addresses the topic of the title: how to actually "LIVE BY" a myth. This is typical of Campbell, who made many claims and assertions for the value of mytholgy, but never, never, never produced any evidence to support his them.For example, in the "Power of Myth" interviews he repeatedly claims that a knowledge of myth helps one in navigating the vagaries of life (what he calls myth's "pedagogical" function). However, he never, ever demonstrates how this actually works. Even when asked directly by Moyers for a single example where a myth helped in his own life, Campbell does not answer the question, but goes off on a tangent. This is also true of of the JC Foundation's books, which are taken from his lectures; he makes assertions, but never produces evidence to support his claims.The problem may be that Campbell is so winning: so charismatic, articulate, informed, and charming, that it takes multiple listenings/watchings/rereadings, to see that there is very little helpful "practical" material there. In fact, when a member of the audience at one of his talks asked for "practical" advice (per his Authorized Biography, A Fire in the Mind) he was indignant; he was supposed to talk and then you were supposed to figure out what to do with it. So if you are looking for something to "live by" you won't find it here.

It's fascinating following the interweaving passages that seem to open up wormholes into both what is the value of myth and into how I interpret these into my own life and their value thus. It's quite extraordinary how these myths have originated and have been communicated across many generations, including the various imagery which Campbell has included in this book. Furthermore, it makes me think of how religious texts are communicated and where the belief in an other, as it were, originates in the first place. Highly recommend.

I really wish I had read this years ago. Clearly many of the essays have been seminal ones - and a great deal of thought and criticism has in fact had these essays in mind - but never clearly acknowledged them!!I am really annoyed that no-one recommended I read this before now!!!The first of these essays was written a long time ago now - but charts a path for the struggle between Islam and the West - almost as though it perceives the threat and is outlining instructions to try and deal with it!!The language of the book is really lucid and accessible and I would really recommend that you all invest in a copy.It will probably make sense of all the Hollywood family films you've ever watched since the 1960s......

I'm afraid I would not recommend this, as the views and understanding are, in my opinion, no longer valid. It is, for example, extremely Eurocentric. Disappointing, as I am very interested in the subject. Worth exploring contemporary research for a more up to date take on this.

This series of essays/lectures on mythological themes is a delightful read in which Campbell's lifelong studies bear fruit in insight and understanding about who we are and our place in the scheme of things. It has not foxed with age (originally published in 1973) and with its clarity of style and thought, goes does like a great liqueur.

There's a lot of material in this book that I found interesting particularly the comparisons of varying myths and states of being. It seems so contemporary! Is there anything more to learn about myths? My only criticism would be that the book jumps about a bit from one subject to the next. I will now look out for more of Joe's work