The Hero With a Thousand Faces [B0366]

1973 PB Bollingen/Princeton, with some wear. Joseph Campbell's classic cross-cultural study of the hero's journey has inspired millions and opened up new areas of research and exploration. Originally published in 1949, the book hit the New York Times best-seller list in 1988 when it became the subject of The Power of Myth, a PBS television special. This was the first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating path of contemporary life. Examining heroic myths in the light of modern psychology, it considers not only the patterns and stages of mythology but also its relevance to our lives today--and to the life of any person seeking a fully realized existence. Myth, according to Campbell, is the projection of a culture's dreams onto a large screen; Campbell's book, like Star Wars, the film it helped inspire, is an exploration of the big-picture moments from the stage that is our world. It is a must-have resource for both experienced students of mythology and the explorer just beginning to approach myth as a source of knowledge.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I had to work my way through some of the dense references but ultimately I enjoyed how Campbell combines and compares so many cultures across the world."; "This book grew my appreciation and desire to read more myth"; "This book is fascinating, and its author is an encyclopedia of mythology. I also resonate with his insistence on the importance of mythology, though I disagree with his claim that the old religions are obsolete (irrecoverably bitten by the politico-economic snake)."; "Immensely deep. A life's work condensed into one book. Probably takes multiple rereads to fully understand. Definitely will revisit in the future."; "I really like this book. It may be a bit out dated in places and I don't wholly agree with Joseph Campbell's philosophy, but this book is truly invaluable to a writer of epic Fantasy like myself."