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Joseph Campbell
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Myths to Live By: The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell Kindle Edition

by Joseph Campbell (Author), David Kudler (Editor), Johnson E. Fairchild (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 700 ratings

Discover Myth

"There's no one quite like Joseph Campbell. He knows the vast sweep of man's panoramic past as few men have ever known it." --The Village Voice

Joseph Campbell famously compared mythology to a kangaroo pouch for the human mind and spirit: "a womb with a view." In Myths to Live By, he examines all of the ways in which myth supports and guides us, giving our lives meaning. Love and war, science and religion, East and West, inner space and outer space — Campbell shows how the myths we live by can reconcile all of these pairs of opposites and bring a sense of the whole.

This classic has been newly illustrated and annotated in its first new edition since its original publication, which also marks the first ebook in the Collected Works of Joseph Campbell series. In the tradition of The Power of Myth and Pathways to Bliss, Myths to Live By remains one of Joseph Campbell's most enduring, popular, and accessible works.
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    The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell
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    395 pages
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    English
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  5. Publication date
    March 10, 2011
  6. File size
    12.4 MB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"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

About the Author

Joseph Campbell was interested in mythology since his childhood in New York. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees at Columbia in 1925 and 1927 and went on to study medieval French and Sanskrit at the universities of Paris and Munich. After a period in California,  he taught at the Canterbury School, then, in 1934, joined the literature department at Sarah Lawrence College, a post he retained for many years. During the 1940s and '50s, he helped Swami Nikhilananda to translate the Upanishads and The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The many books by Professor Campbell include The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Myths to Live By, The Flight of the Wild Gander, and The Mythic Image. He edited The Portable Arabian Nights, The Portable Jung, and other works. He died in 1987.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00537W8I2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joseph Campbell Foundation
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 10, 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 12.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 395 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781611780000
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1611780000
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 700 ratings

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Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell

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Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) was an American author and teacher best known for his work in the field of comparative mythology. He was born in New York City in 1904, and from early childhood he became interested in mythology. He loved to read books about American Indian cultures, and frequently visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he was fascinated by the museum's collection of totem poles. Campbell was educated at Columbia University, where he specialized in medieval literature, and continued his studies at universities in Paris and Munich. While abroad he was influenced by the art of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, the novels of James Joyce and Thomas Mann, and the psychological studies of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. These encounters led to Campbell's theory that all myths and epics are linked in the human psyche, and that they are cultural manifestations of the universal need to explain social, cosmological, and spiritual realities.

After a period in California, where he encountered John Steinbeck and the biologist Ed Ricketts, he taught at the Canterbury School, and then, in 1934, joined the literature department at Sarah Lawrence College, a post he retained for many years. During the 40s and '50s, he helped Swami Nikhilananda to translate the Upanishads and The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. He also edited works by the German scholar Heinrich Zimmer on Indian art, myths, and philosophy. In 1944, with Henry Morton Robinson, Campbell published A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake. His first original work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, came out in 1949 and was immediately well received; in time, it became acclaimed as a classic. In this study of the "myth of the hero," Campbell asserted that there is a single pattern of heroic journey and that all cultures share this essential pattern in their various heroic myths. In his book he also outlined the basic conditions, stages, and results of the archetypal hero's journey.

Throughout his life, he traveled extensively and wrote prolifically, authoring many books, including the four-volume series The Masks of God, Myths to Live By, The Inner Reaches of Outer Space and The Historical Atlas of World Mythology. Joseph Campbell died in 1987. In 1988, a series of television interviews with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, introduced Campbell's views to millions of people.

For more on Joseph Campbell and his work, visit the web site of Joseph Campbell Foundation at JCF.org.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Customers find the book insightful, saying it assists in discovering the meaning of life, and consider it an absolute must-read. The writing style receives mixed reactions, with some praising its clear prose while others find it difficult to read. They appreciate the storytelling, with one describing it as a great introduction to Joseph Campbell's works, and find the author charismatic and charming. The book's strength is noted, with one customer mentioning it holds up well over time.

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InsightReadabilityStorytellingCharmStrengthCharismaUseWriting style
66 customers mention "Insight"66 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with several noting how it assists in discovering the meaning of life. One customer describes it as an eloquent exposition of the Universal Myth, while another mentions how it incorporates philosophical writings.

"...title of this review suggests, a very eloquent and powerful exposition of the Myth that forms the bones of our Psyche, Campbell clearly has some..." Read more

"...Revelations abound in these pages, but be warned: if you are a fundamentalist adherent to one of the Abrahamic religions, you probably won't enjoy..." Read more

"Myths To Live By is correctly titled. We bought copies for our grandchildren." Read more

"...may be that Campbell is so winning: so charismatic, articulate, informed, and charming, that it takes multiple listenings/watchings/rereadings, to..." Read more

54 customers mention "Readability"49 positive5 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as wonderful and brilliant, with one customer noting it's a game changer that everyone should read.

"...is a prophecy of slavery, not oneness. Still, this is a very important book, marred as all great works are by the author's prejudices...." Read more

"...It is not a light read, but it is well worth the effort...." Read more

"...Read them, think about them, React to them. It's time well spent by anyone." Read more

"This book reads like an essential afterword to the great video series...." Read more

7 customers mention "Storytelling"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the storytelling in the book, with one noting it serves as a great introduction to Joseph Campbell's works.

"...Campbell's idea is simple. The stories that we love and that we tell are what define us...." Read more

"...Campbell did that. Myths to Live By is a great introduction to the works of a great writer. Read them, think about them, React to them...." Read more

"This covers the basic fundamentals of Campbell's works. All provide insight. All provide inspiration...." Read more

"A condensed, easy to read, synopsis of Joseph Campbell's works...." Read more

5 customers mention "Charm"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the charm of the book, with one noting its folksy manner.

"...Campbell is so winning: so charismatic, articulate, informed, and charming, that it takes multiple listenings/watchings/rereadings, to see that..." Read more

"...lectures illustrate his capacity to present complex material in a folksy manner without sacrificing essential detail...." Read more

"Useful and beautiful..." Read more

"Dated, Pompous..." Read more

5 customers mention "Strength"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's strength, with one noting how it holds up well over time, while another describes it as riveting.

"...My faith is still strong but today is difficult to really belong to a church...." Read more

"...I feel like Dr. Campbell made his case very clear, and very strongly in the 1st chapters of the book...." Read more

"The book still holds up...." Read more

"...Riveting, page-turner, could not put it down." Read more

4 customers mention "Charisma"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the author charismatic, with one noting his brilliance is without comparison, while another appreciates his literary tact.

"...The problem may be that Campbell is so winning: so charismatic, articulate, informed, and charming, that it takes multiple listenings/watchings/..." Read more

"...As an agnostic, this made for an especially more affective literary tact." Read more

"...The brilliance of the man is without comparison. It opens doors in your mind to find some of answers. The rest is up to you." Read more

"Charismatic, thoughtful , insightful, and absolutely vital observations of life especially for people of this generation...." Read more

4 customers mention "Use"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book useful and relevant, with one mentioning it's a great addition to their library.

"...the inevitable intimacy of Campbell's teaching genius that makes his books so effective...." Read more

"...This is definitely a great addition to my library and my research study. Excellent!!!!" Read more

"...No matter how many times I read this, it always seems fresh and relevant. An American Master. Partake, you won't be sorry." Read more

"Nice buy for school purpose" Read more

21 customers mention "Writing style"14 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some praising its clear and eloquent prose, while others find it difficult to read.

"...For while it is, as the title of this review suggests, a very eloquent and powerful exposition of the Myth that forms the bones of our Psyche,..." Read more

"...Please stop reading my post and read this book. He is a long winded author that goes off in random directions...." Read more

"...Myths to Live By is a great introduction to the works of a great writer. Read them, think about them, React to them. It's time well spent by anyone." Read more

"...The problem may be that Campbell is so winning: so charismatic, articulate, informed, and charming, that it takes multiple listenings/watchings/..." Read more

Brilliant!
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
How we re-create ancient legends in our daily lives to release human potential -- a brilliant, fascinating, and scholarly work! What is a properly functioning mythology and what are its functions? Can we "live by" myths today? Can they help relieve our modern anxiety, or do they help to foster it? Campbell explores the vital link of man to his myths and the way in which they can extend our human potential.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • James French
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eloquent exposition of the Universal Myth
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2001
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    "Myths to Live By" is one of those books which makes me wish I did not have to assign a star rating. For while it is, as the title of this review suggests, a very eloquent and powerful exposition of the Myth that forms the bones of our Psyche, Campbell clearly has some predjudices that make some of his points difficult to see.
    First, however, I shall focus on the positve aspects of the work. Campbell begins his book with a story about the conflict between a myth (in this case the story of Adam and Eve) and the facts discovered by science. The little anecdote serves to present the key thesis of the book: that our old religious idea that myths are literally true is no longer servicable, and that we must now, in an age where the world is coming together in ways unprecendented, seek the pattern that underlies all myths and discover our oneness as a species. Campbell explains why myth and ritual are neccesary in concrete, psycholgical terms. If there are no myths, individuals will become alienated from their society, since myths contain affect images that speak to not the rational mind, but the psyche. His argument is essensially Jungian in tone. Through a comparitive look at the worlds "major" religions, he shows how all myths are variations on the theme of self discovery and rebirth as a person engaged with the Universe and society.
    All that is wonderful. What is not wonderful, however, is the vaugley reactionary tone underlying some of the books passages. Campbell seems to share the imperialist view that all of human history naturally culminates in modern, technological, Western Civilization. He dismisses the youth movement of the time he wrote this book (the sixties to early seventies) as folly. The cultural contribution of "Beat" poets such as Ginsberg an Kerouak is completley ignored. In fact, the "Beats" are never even mentioned when Campbell throws out an all encompassing statement like "we have no artists...of such power today".
    Equally troubling is the statement that "all life is suffering, all societies are opressive, and we just have to learn to live with it". Now, while it may be true that life is sorrowful and that social orders have, throughout history, tended to be unjust, it does not follow that we have to accept the latter fact with the same passivity as the former. As Campbell points out, we make the choices that determine the direction of our society. If everyone, or a strong majority at least, were able to come to the understanding of universal Myth and Divinity, the opression that exists today would decrease, if not dissapear. The book comes to a climax with an expose of the mythic dimensions of the first moon walk. The chapter illustrates how we are indeed one planet and one species. Juxtoposed with "all societies are opressive, and we just have to live with it" however, the chapter's beauty becomes terror. In this light, the chapter is a prophecy of slavery, not oneness.
    Still, this is a very important book, marred as all great works are by the author's prejudices. When reading this book, remember Buddha's finger pointing at the moon, and which one was more important.
    100 people found this helpful
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  • R. Bohrer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book...
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Joseph Campbell was obviously a special person with a deep and profound interest in mythology, and reading this small sampling of his speeches and papers was a treat. I wasn't expecting to find myself so interested in what he had to say regarding the world's various myths, but Mr. Campbell's insights into human nature and religion compelled me to crack a smile numerous times as I was reading this book. Revelations abound in these pages, but be warned: if you are a fundamentalist adherent to one of the Abrahamic religions, you probably won't enjoy it nearly as much as someone with an open mind will. Campbell makes the case that religions and mythologies are merely reflections of the hidden human psyche, and he makes his case well. Anyone interested in theology (from an academic standpoint) would be doing themselves a disservice by not reading what Campbell had to say about mythology and it's role in society.
    18 people found this helpful
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  • Goke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Joseph Campbell!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This as all of Joseph Campbell’s work, shining a spotlight on the less discussed topics behind our popular recreation in myths, religions, and the communities that they nurture. Giving fodder for more creative symbolism in the work that we do.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars If you have only one book authored by Joseph Campbell, this one will get you started.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Myths To Live By is correctly titled. We bought copies for our grandchildren.
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  • L. Greg Graham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Seeing the World for the First Time.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Opening a book by Joseph Campbell is like emerging from a cave and seeing the world for the first time. It is not a light read, but it is well worth the effort. Have you ever wondered why the tale of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty resonates as deeply with your daughter as it did to children four centuries ago, or why Beowulf, The Illiad, and The Odessey, stories so old that they cannot be traced to their source, are reinterpreted generation after generation?

    Campbell's idea is simple. The stories that we love and that we tell are what define us. We must all, for example, come to terms with the fact that we kill plants and animals in order to live. We must all explain what lies beyond death, and why we have been given the gift of life. We need to know what is worth living for and what is worth dying for.

    This book is not for the devoutly religious. Campbell uses religion and myth as synonyms and gives equal credence to Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and plains Indian religious beliefs. The truth here was not written by an angry God on large stone tablets; it is found in the stories that we tell ourselves and our children.

    Campbell examines the way people around the world have dealt with these questions and what happens when the myths we live by are swept away and replaced by nothing.

    In many ways, this book is like a rich cheesecake. It cannot be consumed all at once. It needs to be savored a little at a time, and digested before moving on.
    35 people found this helpful
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  • Paul Williamson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Myths to Live By
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was lucky enough to meet Joseph Campbell in the 1980s when he lectured at Salve Regina in Newport, Rhode Island. Campbell, America's premier mythologist, spoke for just under an hour and just that short amount of time, he had me hooked. In the years that followed, I read many of his works and found that his writings have gradually shaped my own thoughts and greatly influenced my own career as a history teacher. He has opened my eyes to many of our common experiences as human beings and now I find that when I look at people and their cultures, I see more commonalities and fewer differences. Meaning no disrespect to those immersed in diversity, I prefer to see things that people have in common. Campbell did that.

    Myths to Live By is a great introduction to the works of a great writer. Read them, think about them, React to them. It's time well spent by anyone.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Towards mythology for today
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Campbell shows us essential elements for human psychological health found in ancient myths and explains what we should look towards if mythology is to be recreated in a modern setting for it to resonate and guide our secular lives.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • TGyr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gift Volume
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Purchased this for an incarcerated person. I’m sure he will enjoy it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • gbseixas
    5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book
    Reviewed in France on October 1, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A book of Joseph Campbell that one reads as if one were at a speech. Not always easy reading, but always rewarding.
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  • Rebecca Richter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
    Reviewed in Germany on February 4, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An inspiring man! Campbell manages to combine science and storytelling all the while writing an entertaining and humorous book. Thumbs up!
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  • Margherita Suppini
    5.0 out of 5 stars Libro culto da leggere ! Consiglio vivamente!
    Reviewed in Italy on January 19, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Libro culto meraviglioso da leggere nella vita! Per giovani filosofi !
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  • Ian Berry
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the giants of the 20th century even more relevant in the 21st
    Reviewed in Australia on March 31, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I haven't read any of Joseph Campbell for some time nevertheless his work ever present. His works and wisdom were a key to understanding the trap of religion, escaping it and embracing spirituality.

    Great through this work to get reaquainted and to hear Campbells voice once more
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Myths lovers
    Reviewed in India on December 20, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    An excellent book of collection of Joseph Campbell's ideas and insights into various myths and their application to our real life. None can come out after reading this book a bit wiser than before.
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