The Power of Myth

This is possibly the fifth time that I have bought this book. I first came across it, and Joseph Campbell, in the late 1980s when his interview with Bill Moyers was televised. At the time, I was in my twenties, living in a very isolated house without mains water, electricity or a road, and in a bit of a mess. I watched this programme and as soon as I heard Joseph Campbell’s voice I knew that he was a teacher, in the true sense of the word, and that I would learn from him. The interviews spanned, what seemed to be, all of human experience and belief and I suddenly felt connected to something fundamental and true, explained by someone with compassion and intelligence. Reading it is certainly an experience of standing on the shoulders of giants and Campbell is a colossus. I remember being left with this sense after the programmes had finished being aired but, due to my circumstances, I couldn’t find out any more about them or the man who had been at the centre of them. Then, to my relief, a friend found this book which is the transcripts of those conversations. I have had a copy of the book since then, read it regularly and have given it to friends. As an artefact, it is a good book to hold and look at as there are illustrations carefully chosen to support the important points. I recently bought a copy for my son who was born 10 years later after I first came across it. He will no doubt find his own message within it and is already talking about the chapter about the hero’s adventure. When I talk with him about it and listen to the thoughts he has, I remember that all of us should be supported and encouraged to ‘follow our bliss’. Thank you, Joseph Campbell.

An extraordinary conversation between Moyers and Campbell that unravels and unravels and opens up the mind more and more to what is going on around oneself. The importance and necessity of stories is expertly pulled apart, repackaged and pulled apart again. Such as is the nature and explanation of one's consciousness and interpretations of form and non form. Brilliant stuff.

I really enjoyed the book setting into context the myths around religious and cultural story we hold dear how they have shaped our modern world

I'd never heard of Joseph Campbell (or Alan Watts) until watching Elliott Hulse on Youtube who is a Strength coach /Strongman competitor who has embraced philosophy and a holistic lifestyle. Very enlightening but doesn't bring peace of mind. As Elliott says if your waiting for life to start at some point you'll run out of time.

Standout complimentary material to the series of interviews by Moyers to the late Joe Campbell. You'll find magnificent insights cut out from the televised interviews due to time constraints. A great starter book to anyone who is interested in mythology and the works by the author.

For anyone that likes to think more deeply about why we think the way we do. An excellent summary of the ideas that shape our thinking about identity, purpose and our place in the universe.

Excellent book which I am eager to begin it is the next on my list to be read

This is a helpful introduction to Joseph Campbell - a good jumping-off point to become acquainted with his ideas and his lifelong quest to unearth the hidden truths and meanings behind the world's mythologies. However, on the negative side, this work is presented as a dialogue between Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers, and (IMHO) the subject matter loses something from this format.

a must read but you can also find the interview on Youtube.its an edited long interview with questions and answers so easy to read.

I absolutely adore joseph campbell. he's been a teacher for me with his books, but this interview takes you to heaven and leaves you in awe.

A marvellous and highly sophisticated trip through the world of mythodology encompassing a wide range of topics - presented in the format of an extended interview that gives the whole story a little more juice than it would have received without the nonchalant chat between two elderly "silverbacks" who star the dissussion of archetypical motivs that make up good stories to the present day. Campbell excells in giving us a kaleidoscopic insight into evergreens of narration that people love to hear about for ages - ranging from the expatriation of adam & eve from paradise to the more contemporary adventures of luke sykywalker. A history of mythodology that evolves in the course of a sometimes very personal and at other times sober and academical but always well balanced and here and there also ironic and humorous disscussion. It my be stated that the book has a - it my be justified to sa so - enlighting quality to it in that it discusses and reflects with profound knwowledge and wisdom the everlasting quest of people of all ages, cultures and ethnics for sense and guidance in their being - and Campbell knows the stories to tell the stories of the quest. It is truly a good read.

Without their story, a culture has not future, or something like that. Joseph Campbell spent his life giving us our 'story'. Who are we, why did we come here and where are we going. We are all on a hero's journey to test if we are worthy of our home on the other side, or at least that's what Campbell found as he waded through the mass of confusing, and sometimes childlike myths that have followed us through the centuries. I love this particular book because it's an interview between to really gifted men who respect each other, and seem to have a wonderful time just talking about what they love. It's much easier to grasp some of Campbell's concepts because frankly, he can make your head spin with his theories and concepts. This book is like being a fly on the wall while two men talk over dinner. Most of it I can understand, but I have to admit, sometimes things get a little over my head. They were talking about life in general and Campbell says this: "I will participate in the game. It is a wonderful, wonderful opera--except that it hurts". page 81 I don't know how you can sum up life any better than that. Life is wonderful and it does hurt. Then Campbell talks about the 'hero' which everyone one of us is. "The hero is the one who comes to participate in life courageously and decently, in the way of nature, not in the way of personal rancor, disappointment, or revenge." page 82. There you have it. To do life right, you need to be the hero and you need to be courageous and decent. Campbell wrote the book Hero With A Thousand Faces, a compilation of the mythology of the world and this is what he came up with. Screen writers use Campbell's work to outline movies because it's journey we all recognize either on the surface or down in our subconscious, and we know that we are the hero of our own journey. "So Jesus says, Judge not that you may not be judged. That is to say, put yourself back in the position of Paradise before you thought in terms of good and evil. You don't hear this much from the pulpits. But one of the great challenges of life is to say "yea" that that person or that act or that condition which in your mind is most abominable." page 32. What I grasp from this statement is that Campbell is trying to say that we need to look at things from a higher level. A poisonous snake is not evil it just is. When you kill it to save someone, you're saying no to the situation, you're not saying that the snake is evil. I love the genius of Joseph Campbell and this is an easy(comparatively) book to understand him and what he's trying to say without your head exploding. His opening up the world of myth makes him a hero in my book.

Campbell emphasizes the importance of cultivating individuals intrinsic potential in this book. His famous saying, "Follow your bliss" represents the core message he wanted to deliver to all the people in this world. At the same time, he talks about the role of society. This book is truly necessary for all of us who are in this time when the idea of private and the idea of public are not clearly separated but many people are working to show their private in public whereas others are bringing their public face in private. This confuses so much for especially young generation who are about to enter the society. I think reading this book will help you to find the purpose of your life and also to start thinking about who you really are. A wonderful classic book! Highly recommended!