Rating: 
Summary: "A nice, mild, slow-burning rapture."
Review: The right word to describe this 287-page dialogue between Bill Moyers
and Joseph Campbell is "powerful." Although it may not have
the depth of HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES, this book is nonetheless
engaging. These 1985 to 1986 interviews cover a lot of ground, as
Campbell contemplates subjects including the inner journey, ancient
myths, sacrifice and bliss, the hero's adventure, and love and
marriage. Along the way, readers will find words to live by: feel the
rapture of being alive (pp. 4-5); face life's trials, and find new
possibilities in the adventure of being alive (p. 49); and follow your
bliss (p. 156), for example. "Sit in a room and read--and read
and read," Campbell says. "And read the right books by the
right people. Your mind is brought onto that level, and you have a
nice, mild, slow-burning rapture all the time" (p. 122). This
book will surely appeal to thinkers, dreamers, artists, or anyone who
appreciates stimulating conversation about what it means to be fully
alive.G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: A lot more than just a follow-your-bliss clich¿m
Review: Due to the fact that this book is just some disjoint interviews compiled together after the author's death, the scope and treatment of the topics are bound to be limited, incoherent, and overlapping at times. This book is not about equal coverage of myths from ALL traditions all over world. If you want just another myth for your own amusement, you would be better off watching TV, if not reading an academic journal. To me, the most important thing to look for in this book is not the discovery that all myths share a common theme, but rather the fact that Campbell took such discovery with great care and dedication. Each time the interviewer (Bill Moyer) hit him with a tough question, Campbell could just counter with a spell-binding tale to illustrate his point with force of wisdom. Moreover, he did not just throw facts and analyses at the readers-- he actually went to great length to explain why he thought the subject was relevant and important to our modern society. THIS kind of message is what a book that targets general audience should try to deliver. Not just information. Not just knowledge. But, more important than anything else, wisdom.
Rating:
Summary: The Power to See the World with New Eyes
Review: In my college years a friend who was a philosophy major introduced me to this video series (the book is a transcript), and over a period of a couple weeks, we spent many coffee fueled nights watching all six videos, interrupted here and there by heated debates and passionate arguments. Afterwards, I felt transformed. This book only scratches the surface of mythology and Joseph Campbell's other works (of which I'm determined to read), but it was a catalyst for me. "The Power of Myth" will have you exploring subject matter in anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, philosophy, world literature, history, psychology, religion, and wherever else "your bliss" takes you. I found this book and video series inspirational in the same way that a standard college course ought to be (JC was a professor at Sarah Lawrence College), except that it's much cheaper! Ten years later, I find myself returning to it and discovering new revelations each time. Read, watch, listen, explore, and enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Downright troubling in places
Review: Because this book has a conversational format as it consists of a series of interviews between Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers, there are points where it becomes a bit repetitive. While Campbell makes some important points about the nature of myths and mythology in all human societies, I found that he often seems to overstate the obvious. Indeed, much of what Campbell says about myths, symbols and the human unconscious has already been covered with more intelligence and clarity by psychologist Carl Jung. Campbell generally refrains from discussing modern, political mythology - even though his general argument about the socializing nature of myths would seem to demand consideration of this aspect. Moyers probably meant for these interviews to serve as a showcase for Campbell's philosophy of life and as such he was too indulgent, rarely prodding Campbell to more fully explain some of his views. Thus, we never really get much more than Campbell repeatedly telling us to "follow our bliss." I think 'Sesame Street' communicates a more sophisticated message than that. At other places, Campbell's views are genuinely disturbing. For example, he said it is "totally improper" and even "obscene" to "judge people in terms of civil law for performances that they rendered in time of war." Moyers, once more shirking his journalistic duty, didn't press him on this matter - like asking him his opinion of the Nuremberg trials. To me Campbell's statement reads like a pseudo-philosophical justification for atrocities of all sorts. Whatever Campbell's merits as an expert on myths/mythology, he was far from being a clear-headed philosopher, and this comes out in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Joseph was Amazing
Review: Campbell gets five stars for this one. In his modest, unassuming way, Campbell during Moyers' series often recited from rote memory different myths and how they apply to everyday religion and life. He had the courage to say, "I don't know" when there are so many Christians who are sure they know the answers.
As the years pass, we will come to respect the true power, love and uniqueness that emanated from this man. Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable Reading
Review: I agree with the previous reviewer, read this book for yourself. It remains one of my favorite works of literature. This book will have you thinking for years on end. RIP Joseph Campbell
Rating:
Summary: Great intro to literature, but please read them yourself.
Review: The Power of Myth is a great introduction to meaningful
literature, but please follow up on the references and read
them for yourself. I use the analogy of a movie critique where
this book will give you an outline of great literature and
you'll know lots of interesting stories but they will be
stories that were important to and interpreted by someone else.
You won't have the full experience without actually
reading them yourself!!! This analogy is not meant to be
disrespectful to Joseph Campbell or take away from the book,
he has drawn a common thread through literature across cultures
and history. Please consider this book as a possible guide through
literature and be ready to have a lot of FUN!!!
Rating:
Summary: :.:The Power of Myth:.:
Review: Content: J. Campbell is a comparative scholar of mythologies, so expect many comparecents between world religions. Also note that the book is written in the form of a dialogue- interview.
It is very easy and simple to follow the conversation- the language is not some convoluted elite jargon but simple human language. J. Campbell is obviously an atheist but not in a Nitzschean way. In fact he doesn't preach at all but lets you form your own conclusions about the subject. Some of his analysis of religions is very interesting and enlightening- I bet most christians never thought of the bible as a metaphor. Though, you could say that Campbell is too Platonic- there is a lot of idealism in his conception of the power of myth.
The Point of the Book: The point of this book is to illustrate how a myth is still very much relevant to today's world, in spite of common conception. He doesn't, however, suggest we go back to old beliefs, but rather that we form new ones, foot-in-foot with modern mentality and fast paced world.
Rating:
Summary: Campbell's work is always brilliant...
Review: ... and yet he talks so generally. I was very intrigued by this book, especially by the references to voodoo, and so I also bought Ross Heaven's Vodou Shaman. You can see Campbell's influence (as well as Frazer's) in Heaven's book, but somehow there is more depth to it. I will always admire Campbell and enjoy his work, I only wish he could have looked more deeply at one single tradition rather than drawing generalist conclusions. Still, not many can do it better, even now.
Rating:
Summary: Scholarly, Entertaining, Broad, Informative, & Mystical
Review: Our language typically fails us. But through mythology, language and art combine to illuminate the mind, body, heart, and spirit. This book is a great extension for those with some experience already under their belt. Campbell, Jung, Ibn Arabi, there is no limit to the infinity of our hearts.
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