Myths to Live By
Myths to Live By by Joseph Campbell, published by Penguin in February 1993, is a thought-provoking exploration of the role of mythology in human experience. This reprint edition spans 288 pages and delves into the functions of mythology, examining how these narratives can both alleviate and contribute to modern anxieties. Campbell investigates the myth-making process from ancient times to the present, emphasizing the creative imagination as the foundation of all mythology.
In this book, readers will find a comprehensive analysis of universal myths and their impact on contemporary life. Campbell discusses the interconnectedness of myths across cultures, highlighting their shared archetypes and the importance of recognizing these common threads. The work invites reflection on how understanding these myths can enhance human potential and foster a deeper connection to our collective past. With its focus on social science, folklore, and philosophy, Myths to Live By offers valuable insights into the enduring power of storytelling and its relevance in today’s world.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Myths, according to Freud’s view, are of the psychological order of dream. Myths, so to say, are public dreams; dreams are private myths. “
“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.
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