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The Hero with a Thousand Faces

By Joseph Campbell

(35)

| Paperback | 9780691017846

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Book Description

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 Continue

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.

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.

4 Reviews

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  • 1 person find this helpful

    Mythologies compared

    Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces is great as long as it compares numerous mythologies, religions, and fairy tales. It is very interesting to see the same story elements in every tale of every age told in every part of the world.
    When Campbell explains all this in psychoanalyti ... (continue)

    Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces is great as long as it compares numerous mythologies, religions, and fairy tales. It is very interesting to see the same story elements in every tale of every age told in every part of the world.
    When Campbell explains all this in psychoanalytical terms, however, it seems a bit dated sometimes (this book was written in the 40s of the last century). But don't let that hold you from reading it.

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    Corstin said on Feb 18, 2012 | Add your feedback

  • 1 person find this helpful

    A Classic

    This is Campbell's masterpiece. It's a must-read for anyone interested in mythology, culture, literature...really, it's a must-read for everyone! Great insights into universal elements of culture as well as the fundamentals of story arcs.

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    currerbell said on Oct 29, 2010 | Add your feedback

  • A book written by a fine educated person.

    Joseph Campbell is a very often quoted author among screenwriters. He's the one who structured first the "hero's journey" (C. Vogler) but one of the few who refers too Freud too and not just to Jung. This is a remarkable difference books that talk about the story's structure, generally very much inf ... (continue)

    Joseph Campbell is a very often quoted author among screenwriters. He's the one who structured first the "hero's journey" (C. Vogler) but one of the few who refers too Freud too and not just to Jung. This is a remarkable difference books that talk about the story's structure, generally very much influence only by the latter psychologist. I appreciated a lot his open mindness (in consulting so many different authors), I admired his vast culture and his originality (his book has been written in 1948). However sometime quotation are a tad too long. I wanted to read Joseph Campbell because LOST screenwriters quoted him so much (together with J. Vernes, The Mysterious Island and W. Golding, Lords of flies) and I have to say that I really admired them: The Hero with a Thousand Faces is not a book for everyone. No wonder how LOST was such a good show!

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    Clara Mazzi said on May 30, 2012 | Add your feedback

  • The research done for this book is astounding. Known more for its influence on George Lucas and the Star Wars saga, The Hero With A Thousand Faces attempts to show the similarities of world religions and mythologies, and suggests that in spite of its unconcious and psychological overtones, mythology ... (continue)

    The research done for this book is astounding. Known more for its influence on George Lucas and the Star Wars saga, The Hero With A Thousand Faces attempts to show the similarities of world religions and mythologies, and suggests that in spite of its unconcious and psychological overtones, mythology and religion may not work in this day and age because of how sophisticated Man has become.

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    shazzpezzazz said on Mar 13, 2007 | Add your feedback

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