Trickster : AMERICAN INDIAN MYTH

Rating:
Summary: Coyote on the couch
Review: Although occasionally dry, the connection between myth and psych is touched on here - distinguishing this material from more conventional anthologies of Coyote/Trickster legends. I might suggest the more readable Joseph Campbell, and indeed there's a bit of a connection between the two writers, and Carl Jung.

There's new material here, even if a little too intellectual for some. Some of the legends were new to me, and the valuable tidbits made it worth wading through. Jung's contribution is unique. In summary: It's a slower read, but worth the effort.

Rating:
Summary: Coyote on the couch
Review: Although occasionally dry, the connection between myth and psych is touched on here - distinguishing this material from more conventional anthologies of Coyote/Trickster legends. I might suggest the more readable Joseph Campbell, and indeed there's a bit of a connection between the two writers, and Carl Jung.

There's new material here, even if a little too intellectual for some. Some of the legends were new to me, and the valuable tidbits made it worth wading through. Jung's contribution is unique. In summary: It's a slower read, but worth the effort.

Rating:
Summary: Try to cut the essays a little slack
Review: The introduction and other essays in this book suffer greatly from 'primitive peoples' syndrome (it was written a few decades ago). Ignore this: the best part of the book is the middle, where a Winnebago trickster story plus a few others are included, supposedly in full. If you believe Radin's description of collecting the myths (got them from an informant, translated by two more informants and 'tidied up' by him), then they seem to be pretty much OK.. certainly nothing obvious has been left out, as self-mutilation, genitals, and jolly exploits with faeces are still in there. Draw your own conclusions.

Rating:
Summary: Good myth but bad commentaries
Review: The Trickster myth is hilarious and it shows how myths can shape people's psyches. The commentaries are somewhat disappointing, though. You must have a big interest in the subject to enjoy this book.