Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Like everyone else who's never taken a course in Mythology, the only reason that I've ever heard of Joseph Campbell or his concept of the 'Monomyth/Hero's Journey' is because George Lucas used it to finish "Star Wars." And in light of that pub quiz trivia, it's long since become little more than a 12-step blueprint for every hack writer who needs an outline for their plot. So after decades of hearing people mention it in their 'Deep Dive/Long Form' video essays, I figured that it was about time I read the book that started it all. And sure enough, the moment that I first heard the name 'Freud' and realised that Campbell's entire theory was based on the early 20th century myth of 'Psychoanalysis,' I knew that I was wasting my time.
Because while I've never taken a course in mythology, I 'Have' studied enough psychology to know that Freud worked with adults, assumed what their childhoods must have been like based on their current mental state and then twisted those assumptions to fit the Greek myths that he thought sounded cool. (I, e, 'The Oedipus Complex.') So for a mythologist to build his work on Freud and Jung who themselves based their work on their twisted and self-serving interpretation of Greek mythology is the world's biggest, most pointless and most self-aggrandising circle jerk!
As a matter of fact, when I say that I learned about Freud in psychology class, his work was literally only mentioned because it's the only thing most people know about psychology. So right at the beginning of our first introductory course, they needed to take a moment to inform us all that it's utter horse hockey and everyone should ignore it. That literally the only reason it's famous is because it sounds cool and 'Feels' true, but it has absolutely no basis or merit whatsoever if you're trying to actually understand how the human mind works. And likewise, what little mention I've found of what mythologists and folklorists think of Joseph Campbell and his 'Hero's Journey' is exactly the same; I, e, that they absolutely despise and resent them for completely poisoning the general public's understanding of their field. Because while they devote their careers to trying to understand the myths of other cultures in their own context by putting aside their own (usually white, male, European/American) perspective, Campbell was just another arrogant, 'Intellectually Imperialist' white guy who took what he wanted from other cultures and declared that it proved him right while utterly ignoring the voices and perspectives of women, queer people and what have you.
Today in fact, the only people who still have anything to gain from this navel gazing drivel are writers. But even they don't have to wade through this obnoxious pile of sound and fury, signifying nothing, because they can easily read one of the countless 'Reader's Digest' versions, charts or guides that are available online. And even then, they are probably wasting their time. Because the joke is that because it's so famous and every critic and fellow writer can spot it a mile away, even the 'Hero's Journey' as the plot of fiction has become an obsolete cliché that all but the most jaded hacks are now struggling to avoid.
Because while I've never taken a course in mythology, I 'Have' studied enough psychology to know that Freud worked with adults, assumed what their childhoods must have been like based on their current mental state and then twisted those assumptions to fit the Greek myths that he thought sounded cool. (I, e, 'The Oedipus Complex.') So for a mythologist to build his work on Freud and Jung who themselves based their work on their twisted and self-serving interpretation of Greek mythology is the world's biggest, most pointless and most self-aggrandising circle jerk!
As a matter of fact, when I say that I learned about Freud in psychology class, his work was literally only mentioned because it's the only thing most people know about psychology. So right at the beginning of our first introductory course, they needed to take a moment to inform us all that it's utter horse hockey and everyone should ignore it. That literally the only reason it's famous is because it sounds cool and 'Feels' true, but it has absolutely no basis or merit whatsoever if you're trying to actually understand how the human mind works. And likewise, what little mention I've found of what mythologists and folklorists think of Joseph Campbell and his 'Hero's Journey' is exactly the same; I, e, that they absolutely despise and resent them for completely poisoning the general public's understanding of their field. Because while they devote their careers to trying to understand the myths of other cultures in their own context by putting aside their own (usually white, male, European/American) perspective, Campbell was just another arrogant, 'Intellectually Imperialist' white guy who took what he wanted from other cultures and declared that it proved him right while utterly ignoring the voices and perspectives of women, queer people and what have you.
Today in fact, the only people who still have anything to gain from this navel gazing drivel are writers. But even they don't have to wade through this obnoxious pile of sound and fury, signifying nothing, because they can easily read one of the countless 'Reader's Digest' versions, charts or guides that are available online. And even then, they are probably wasting their time. Because the joke is that because it's so famous and every critic and fellow writer can spot it a mile away, even the 'Hero's Journey' as the plot of fiction has become an obsolete cliché that all but the most jaded hacks are now struggling to avoid.
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
slow-paced
FINALLY READ THIS OMGGGG FOUR YEARS, it is a lot easier to read after the interview one(the power of myth), thank you to the person on here who recommended doing that in their review, they saved me from a headache
This book was a revelation when I first read it years ago. The works of Mr. Campbell to me are a source of wisdom and inspiration that after years still continue to inform and expand my view of the world we live in. The Hero With a Thousand Faces not only explains the idea of the monomyth -all great stories follow a similar chain of episodes-, but much more importantly shows the wide range of common elements that pervade not only the bigger world religions but most local and tribal myths as well.
The book shows how important it is to be able to think in symbols and metaphors when we read or listen to religious texts and stories - or any story for that matter. Historical readings of the stories contained in the books of the world's religions invariably end up causing problems, as they are based on science that is -to put it mildly- slightly dated: they're often more than 2000 years old. Stories from a time when the world was flat, the smallest thing was a grain of sand and the largest thing was the blue dome of the heaven above, cannot be applied in any literal sense to a world where the smallest 'thing' turns out to be a non-local wave potential and the largest thing an immeasurably enormous expanse of dark empty space dotted with more galaxies than there are grains of sand on the earth. We have more knowledge about the physical (im)possibilities of events than people did two to four thousand years ago. That's why -almost- nobody believes that God created the Earth 10.000 years ago and put the dinosaur bones there to have a laugh with us.
But read metaphorically, the stories of the world's religions contain a wealth of wisdom and information about the development of the human psyche, both collectively and individually (to put it in Jungian terms). That is why all religions can be said to be true: the symbols are alive and kicking, they just need to be translated to a language that fit the context of the modern age.
The book shows how important it is to be able to think in symbols and metaphors when we read or listen to religious texts and stories - or any story for that matter. Historical readings of the stories contained in the books of the world's religions invariably end up causing problems, as they are based on science that is -to put it mildly- slightly dated: they're often more than 2000 years old. Stories from a time when the world was flat, the smallest thing was a grain of sand and the largest thing was the blue dome of the heaven above, cannot be applied in any literal sense to a world where the smallest 'thing' turns out to be a non-local wave potential and the largest thing an immeasurably enormous expanse of dark empty space dotted with more galaxies than there are grains of sand on the earth. We have more knowledge about the physical (im)possibilities of events than people did two to four thousand years ago. That's why -almost- nobody believes that God created the Earth 10.000 years ago and put the dinosaur bones there to have a laugh with us.
But read metaphorically, the stories of the world's religions contain a wealth of wisdom and information about the development of the human psyche, both collectively and individually (to put it in Jungian terms). That is why all religions can be said to be true: the symbols are alive and kicking, they just need to be translated to a language that fit the context of the modern age.
3/4ths of this work felt interesting and inspiring.
I can't give it 5 stars, though, as the book lost me somewhere in the middle of Part 2 - it felt less structured and had way less direction than everything that came before, so I had to switch to the audiobook format here to get through it until it got interesting for me again. I came back to reading with my own two eyes only for the epilogue as it had some things I just had to highlight and absorb in the best way possbole.
Overall, I wouldn't say that this felt like a revelation but it was nice to revisit things from my youth that I lost touch with, and kind of reinforce the steadily forming answer to the 'Why does life feel so hollow lately?' question that's been bugging me on and off for several years now.
And I think it's the hyperreality, the breakneck tempo, the sensory and information overload of the modern civilization - the fear of being bored, the fake transparency of our lives on social media, the simulacras, the continued enabling of division spurred on by social media algorithms barely leaving us with space to dream, to question, to overthrow, to grandiosely mythologize and pay attention to the mundane aspects of our lives for ourselves, in our heads, not necessarily outwardly, not for approval, but for the source within us that's waiting to shine through, should we let it. The hero's journey has moved within, and we are steadily refusing the call.
I can't give it 5 stars, though, as the book lost me somewhere in the middle of Part 2 - it felt less structured and had way less direction than everything that came before, so I had to switch to the audiobook format here to get through it until it got interesting for me again. I came back to reading with my own two eyes only for the epilogue as it had some things I just had to highlight and absorb in the best way possbole.
Overall, I wouldn't say that this felt like a revelation but it was nice to revisit things from my youth that I lost touch with, and kind of reinforce the steadily forming answer to the 'Why does life feel so hollow lately?' question that's been bugging me on and off for several years now.
And I think it's the hyperreality, the breakneck tempo, the sensory and information overload of the modern civilization - the fear of being bored, the fake transparency of our lives on social media, the simulacras, the continued enabling of division spurred on by social media algorithms barely leaving us with space to dream, to question, to overthrow, to grandiosely mythologize and pay attention to the mundane aspects of our lives for ourselves, in our heads, not necessarily outwardly, not for approval, but for the source within us that's waiting to shine through, should we let it. The hero's journey has moved within, and we are steadily refusing the call.
slow-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I read this book as a final project for an honor's class in college. It is my favorite book I've read for school. Campbell explains the monomyth and gives the reader an in-depth look into all the little facets that make up The Hero's Journey. Giving examples from readings throughout our history from Egyptian tales, to Greek Mythology, Shakespeare, and the Bible, Campbell also ties in the reason why stories follow similar patterns.
Definitely a classic - you can sure get a lot of traction out of the Myth Cycle. "A single song is being inflected through all the coloration of the human choir...The way to become human is to learn to recognize the lineaments of God in all of the wonderful modulation of the face of man." Good stuff here.
The hẻo's journey forms the backbone of our most foundational mythologies, which date back to ancient times. This three-act structure isn't just a powerful storytelling tool. It's also a symbolic narrative that has become the basis for multiple religions and continues to influence the stories we tell each other today.
The idea of "reaching out to full potential" isn't our only concern - we want to be sure we'll be remembered. The Hero's journey reminds us that we can achieve this goal by sharing our wisdom and positively impacting those around us. In this way, the people we help can continue our work long after we're gone.
Key Ideas from "The Hero With a Thousand Faces":
- The hero's journey is a recurring narrative pattern found in myths and legends from different cultures throughout history.
- The hero embarks on a transformative adventure, facing trials and overcoming obstacles to achieve personal growth and bring about positive change.
- The journey typically involves stages such as the call to adventure, crossing the threshold into the unknown, encountering mentors and allies, facing tests and challenges, and ultimately returning with newfound wisdom.
- Archetypal characters, such as the wise mentor, the threshold guardian, and the shadow antagonist, play essential roles in the hero's journey.
- The hero's journey mirrors the psychological and spiritual journey of individuals seeking self-discovery, purpose, and fulfillment.
- Myths and stories serve as powerful tools for understanding and navigating life's challenges, offering guidance, inspiration, and a sense of collective identity.
- Universal themes and symbols found in myths tap into the shared human experience and reflect deep truths about the nature of existence.
- The hero's journey resonates with our innate longing for growth, transformation, and the pursuit of a higher purpose.
- By embracing the hero's journey as a metaphor for personal development, individuals can find meaning, transcend limitations, and unlock their full potential.
"The Hero With a Thousand Faces" is a seminal work that not only sheds light on the significance of myths and stories but also invites readers to embark on their own heroic quests, embracing challenges, and discovering the hero within themselves. Campbell's comprehensive analysis and profound insights make this book an enduring source of wisdom for anyone seeking to understand the transformative power of storytelling and the universal journey of the human spirit.
The idea of "reaching out to full potential" isn't our only concern - we want to be sure we'll be remembered. The Hero's journey reminds us that we can achieve this goal by sharing our wisdom and positively impacting those around us. In this way, the people we help can continue our work long after we're gone.
Key Ideas from "The Hero With a Thousand Faces":
- The hero's journey is a recurring narrative pattern found in myths and legends from different cultures throughout history.
- The hero embarks on a transformative adventure, facing trials and overcoming obstacles to achieve personal growth and bring about positive change.
- The journey typically involves stages such as the call to adventure, crossing the threshold into the unknown, encountering mentors and allies, facing tests and challenges, and ultimately returning with newfound wisdom.
- Archetypal characters, such as the wise mentor, the threshold guardian, and the shadow antagonist, play essential roles in the hero's journey.
- The hero's journey mirrors the psychological and spiritual journey of individuals seeking self-discovery, purpose, and fulfillment.
- Myths and stories serve as powerful tools for understanding and navigating life's challenges, offering guidance, inspiration, and a sense of collective identity.
- Universal themes and symbols found in myths tap into the shared human experience and reflect deep truths about the nature of existence.
- The hero's journey resonates with our innate longing for growth, transformation, and the pursuit of a higher purpose.
- By embracing the hero's journey as a metaphor for personal development, individuals can find meaning, transcend limitations, and unlock their full potential.
"The Hero With a Thousand Faces" is a seminal work that not only sheds light on the significance of myths and stories but also invites readers to embark on their own heroic quests, embracing challenges, and discovering the hero within themselves. Campbell's comprehensive analysis and profound insights make this book an enduring source of wisdom for anyone seeking to understand the transformative power of storytelling and the universal journey of the human spirit.