The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Power of Myth
Book Review: A lot more than just a follow-your-bliss clichm
Summary: 5 Stars
Due to the fact that this book is just some disjoint interviews compiled together after the author's death, the scope and treatment of the topics are bound to be limited, incoherent, and overlapping at times. This book is not about equal coverage of myths from ALL traditions all over world. If you want just another myth for your own amusement, you would be better off watching TV, if not reading an academic journal. To me, the most important thing to look for in this book is not the discovery that all myths share a common theme, but rather the fact that Campbell took such discovery with great care and dedication. Each time the interviewer (Bill Moyer) hit him with a tough question, Campbell could just counter with a spell-binding tale to illustrate his point with force of wisdom. Moreover, he did not just throw facts and analyses at the readers-- he actually went to great length to explain why he thought the subject was relevant and important to our modern society. THIS kind of message is what a book that targets general audience should try to deliver. Not just information. Not just knowledge. But, more important than anything else, wisdom.Book Review: A mind opening book that makes you smile from the heart
Summary: 4 Stars
Of my two favorite memories of Campbell's talks with Bill Moyers of PBS, which is what this book transcribes and encapsulates, the one that comes to mind is an introduction between Campbell and a Catholic Priest, perhaps a Cardinal, that he retells. After they are introduced and the Priest is told who Dr. Campbell is and a little about his life, he asks him, "Are you still Catholic?" To which he replies "No, Father." He then asks- and Campbell was impressed by his specificity- "Do you believe in a *personal* God?" To which Campbell replies, "No, Father."The Priest then replies, almost as if to engage in a debate and denigrate the atheist's worship of the rational mind uber alles simultaneously (and an atheist is what you are led to assume he thinks Campbell is), "Well, I guess there is no way to logically prove the existence of God." And Campbell answers, calmly, "If there were Father, what would be the value of faith?"
"It's been a pleasure meeting you Dr. Campbell, have a nice day."
Regardless of your faith, interest, background or education, you will find yourself in the same shoes of that Priest when you read this. Campbell's erudition and knowledge of the many ideas, subtexts and similarities inherent in the world's treasure trove of mythology is daunting to say the least, and his approach is designed to have it all make sense to the modern human's heart. THE POWER OF MYTH may be the best Campbell book to serve as the doorway to his world, his incredible mind, and the eternal wisdom of mythology, as it manifests itself in every culture- not to mention our personal lives.
To say it will make you think is almost denigrating it; it will make you ponder. It will lead you (after quite possibly confusing the hell out of you, as you try to absorb it into a preexisting way of thinking that may become obsolete via what he teaches) to wonder the way children wonder. And in the end, you will smile from the soul, not just the heart. I highly recommend this as a Joseph Campbell and Mythology primer- and recommend HERO OF A THOUSAND FACES after this has whet your appetite's soul.
Book Review: A very good read
Summary: 3 Stars
I got alot more out of this book than i thought i would. i often reflect back to this book and new "clicks" happen for me by comparing cultural myths and beliefs. If this book is read in the right frame of mind you can see alot of a bigger human spiritual picture out of it. This is a good read for a tired after work weekday night. Not hard reading soft and entertaining. I would recommend it.Book Review: AN EYE OPENING GIFT, BLISS AND GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL
Summary: 4 Stars
Joseph Campbell did follow his "bliss." He was not afraid to take the path that was difficult yet rewarding. The only path that would help us experience true happiness. Mr. Campbell conversation with Bill Moyers was insightful although I didn't really watch the actual interview. I was able to read the script in such way that made me feel that I did witness such witty exchange first hand. Cambell eloquently talk about the vital part of our existence linking the divine part of humanity, which only manifest when the ability our understanding become full circle and when we are able to follow our "bliss."
"...if you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be."
Campbell simply insisted that we all follow our bliss, there is no other way around it. What ever it is that might take to find our "bliss" it certainly worth the journey. We certainly enter new level of understanding during the course of reading. It is vital to keep the same level enthusiastic one need to have taking such personal journey in finding yourself as if you are introduced to your inner life the first time. In real life whenever we are introduced to new person. We use our capacity to learn about the new person. We do not make the same effort learning about ourselves. Campbell reminds us the important of taking such journey and learning about our God given gift. Campbell: "Follow your bliss. Find where it is, and don't be afraid to follow it."
I'm big believer knowing the symptoms and methods of finding my own "bliss." I certain like when Campbell offers such simple and universal yet deeper methods of staying on track. Campbell: "Our life evokes our character. You find out more about yourself as you go on. That's why it's good to be able to put yourself in situations that will evoke your higher nature rather that your lower." In our live times we do drift away and explore the many possibilities that we encounter in life. We may even suppress our true being for reasons. Now Campbell offered us to measure our journey to find our "bliss" to stay on track taking the journey while we are on our higher nature.
Campbell continues to remind us to stay on the center and not to loose track even not to blind ourselves with temporary happiness as result our lower nature. Finding our "bliss" not to be a complicated journey but requires following our heart and returning to the center to be able to understand our surroundings fully. It is really finding the moment that we are really happier. Let us examine the Campbell's differentiation between just being excited for moment or experiencing true happiness in his conversation with Bill Moyer: "What about happiness? If I'm a young person and I want to be happy, what do myths tell me about happiness?"
Campbell: "The way to find out about your happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel most happy, when you really are happy - not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy. This requires a little bit of self-analysis. What is it that makes you happy? Stay with it, no matter what people tell you. This is what I call "follow your bliss."
On the final analysis I strong recommend for anyone to read the book to draw a reasonable conclusion. However, I took the direct quote illustrating what our inward journey must consider in finding our bliss as Joseph Campbell recapitulate: "...When life comes into being, it is neither afraid not desiring, it is just becoming. Then it gets into being, and it begins to be afraid and desiring. When you can get rid of fear and desire and just get back to where you're becoming, you've hit the spot ... But the goal of your quest for knowledge of yourself is to be found at that burning point in yourself, that becoming thing in yourself, which is innocent of the goods and evils of the world as already become, and therefore desireless and fearless..."
Don't you agree?
Book Review: Amazing Mythological Comparisons
Summary: 3 Stars
This is written in an "interview" form. I probably would get more out of the DVD format. It has very interesting comparisons of our life to mythology. Although very interesting, some ideas seem a little far-fetched.