The Power of Myth

The Power of Myth launched an extraordinary resurgence of interest in Joseph Campbell and his work. A preeminent scholar, writer, and teacher, he has had a profound influence on millions of people, including Star Wars creator George Lucas. To Campbell, mythology was the “song of the universe, the music of the spheres.” With Bill Moyers, one of America’s most prominent journalists, as his thoughtful and engaging interviewer, The Power of Myth touches on subjects from modern marriage to virgin births, from Jesus to John Lennon, offering a brilliant combination of intelligence and wit.

From stories of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome to traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, a broad array of themes are considered that together identify the universality of human experience across time and culture. An impeccable match of interviewer and subject, a timeless distillation of Campbell’s work, The Power of Myth continues to exert a profound influence on our culture.

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The Power of Myth

Author

Joseph Campbell, Bill Moyers

Publisher

Vintage

Pages

320

Size

8 x 5 x 1 Inches

ISBN

978-0385418867

About the author

Joseph Campbell was an American mythologist and writer known for his comparative mythology scholarship and the "hero's journey" concept, which he popularized through his books and the 1988 PBS series The Power of Myth.Born in 1904 to an Irish Catholic family, his interest in myths was sparked by childhood experiences like visiting the American Museum of Natural History and seeing Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.After earning his Ph.D.in comparative mythology from Columbia University, he taught literature at Sarah Lawrence College for decades, influencing writers and filmmakers for generations.