Anyone read Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces"? Is it worth it?

I read it in high school a few decades ago. If I remember correctly, the style wasn't overly academic. You have to be aware going in that Campbell was self-taught in a lot of ways (at least after his MA) and that Hero with a Thousand Faces is now 70 years old. It's not current. It is still quite influential, however, so it's probably worth your time if you enjoy it. Just be aware that a lot of what he writes is subject to a lot of revision.

I got really into Joe a while back and read just about everything he wrote. Its interesting how now I really feel no use for his work in my life directly but it accounts for a significant layer of my thought-foundation nontheless.

Hero is a bit thick and Joe writes in long wordy sentences. It took me 2-3 years of careful reading to finally feel like I grasped it, which took a ton of extra reading. Without reading the myths, legends, fairy tales, religious and philosophical texts he references you miss a lot. And in the end while it's philosophical it really is just about stories. But a great journey of itself if youre willing to go the distance.

Masks of God are also really thick. My favorites are Thou Art That, Inner Reaches of Outer Space, and Flight of the Wild Gander.

There's also a really light weight read Reflections on Living where Joe imparts practical wisdom and advice from his own life with mythical references.

I thought becoming a Joe Campbell scholar for a bit has made life a lot more magical.

Hero can be heavy going.

Start with the Power of Myth for an interesting, accessible overview of Campbell's work and thinking.

Then, check out Reflections on the Art of Living (edited by Diane Olson) for a deeper dive.

The Jospeh Campbell Foundation has also released a massive collection of his lectures, which are great listening.

Campbell is Awesome wrote:

Hero can be heavy going.

Start with the Power of Myth for an interesting, accessible overview of Campbell's work and thinking.

Then, check out Reflections on the Art of Living (edited by Diane Olson) for a deeper dive.

The Jospeh Campbell Foundation has also released a massive collection of his lectures, which are great listening.

His videos are on Netflix...at least in Australia. Reflections on the Art of Living is one of the best books I have read.

It is one of the 5 most import books you can read in your life.

Not kidding.

I had it assigned for a class in college. Needed to read it over spring break, while on a track trip for my college.

I made the mistake of starting to read it before lights out...could not put it down, read it straight through. Morning run was tough, lol!

That book changed my life. Cleared up where religion came from, for one!

And it’s a great read, researched and written by a Columbia half-miler!

Yes yes yes yes yes! wrote:

It is one of the 5 most import books you can read in your life.

Not kidding.

I had it assigned for a class in college. Needed to read it over spring break, while on a track trip for my college.

I made the mistake of starting to read it before lights out...could not put it down, read it straight through. Morning run was tough, lol!

That book changed my life. Cleared up where religion came from, for one!

And it’s a great read, researched and written by a Columbia half-miler!

That's quite the endorsement! Thank you to everyone who has responded. I have listened to The Power of Myth and enjoyed it. Didn't realize he had other great books too. I'll have to check them out.

Jim Curry wrote:

Yes yes yes yes yes! wrote:

It is one of the 5 most import books you can read in your life.

Not kidding.

I had it assigned for a class in college. Needed to read it over spring break, while on a track trip for my college.

I made the mistake of starting to read it before lights out...could not put it down, read it straight through. Morning run was tough, lol!

That book changed my life. Cleared up where religion came from, for one!

And it’s a great read, researched and written by a Columbia half-miler!

That's quite the endorsement! Thank you to everyone who has responded. I have listened to The Power of Myth and enjoyed it. Didn't realize he had other great books too. I'll have to check them out.

Hi Jim, hope you report back about your reading experience of it afterwards!

Campbell over-emphasizes the themes of Greek myths & de-emphasizes the historical aspects.

For instance, we know Alexander the Great was surprised to find many places that he conquered were described quite accurately. Not at all “mythical!”