Rating: 
Summary: To serious students of religion, an amazingly silly book
Review: Joseph Campbell has written a large number of books that all rest upon a single unexamined and ultimately untenable position: that all religions are instantiations of a single phenomenon--Religion. Of course, Campbell speaks of Myth more than religion, but it is obvious that religion if the primary--if not quite the exclusive--source of myth. It is "religion" that validates his use of "myth" across all periods of time, cultures, and religions. If there is a single, easily identifiable entity that we can identify by the word "Religion," instead of a number of "religions" that frequently have less in common than Campbell and Jungians in general suppose, then this needs to be argued for. As it is, Campbell seems to feel that the entire religious landscape is grist for his mill, that one can profitably pluck stories from bodies of belief and experience as diverse as Buddhism, Christianity, Shintoism, and a primitive tribal religion as if they were all a part of the same phenomenon. Although this book is written at a much more popular level than most of his other books, all of Campbell's works from THE MASKS OF GOD to THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES are subject to this same mortal flaw. Campbell needed at some point to reveal to his readers precisely what his intellectual presuppositions were, and profide some kind of justifications for those assumptions. He does never, and this lack of foundations afflicts and undermines all of his work. It is one of the main reasons that scholars engaged in the study of religion feel free to completely ignore his work. Had his books not been so popular and influential on the general populace (Campbell has no following among scholars or academics, especially among those who study religion), I would probably have given this a 2 or maybe a 3. But because he has played a major role in the continuing decay in the ability of most people to conceptualize religious ideas, I knock the rating down a bit. He has to bear part of the blame for religious nebulousity, whether New Age or otherwise.
Rating: 
Summary: Following Your Bliss, Aurally
Review: Moyers and Campbell's conversation first aired on the PBS special: "The Power of Myth." The tapes capture the relaxed and entertaining essence of six programs: The Hero's Adventure; The Message of the Myth; The First Storytellers; Sacrifice and Bliss; Love and the Goddess; and Masks of Eternity. There is something very comforting in hearing Campbell's voice respond with ease to Moyers questions about myth: questions that anyone might ask. Campbell was a great storyteller, but it is his range of stories and depth of insightful interpretation that will keep the listener engaged - maybe awed. Taking place on George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch, "The Hero's Adventure" discussion has an interesting piece where Campbell laments the paucity of modern heroes and its consequences for adults and children alike. Then he relates the plot from the Lucas film "Stars Wars" with elements of the hero's journey; the listener can hear Campbell's optimistic excitement as he links the film's characters and plot to the Hero's rite of passage. The listener can sense Campbell's hope for future hero/heroine role models with universal appeal as his voice trys to keep pace with his thoughts. After listening to a tape individuals may feel a sense connectiveness to all that surrounds them: touched by the wisdom of myth. Campbell's words still echo in my ears, "If you follow your bliss . . .the life you ought to be living is the one you are living." For those who need to see the words and visually hold them in space and time, Moyers and Campbell's book "The Power of Myth" [edited by Flowers] provides the orginal PBS transcipt and additional material that was edited out. In addition to the six topics detailed on the tapes, the book includes the program on The Journey Inward.
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Summary: Your best hope to have peace and make sense of it all...
Review: Joseph Campbell was one of those rare individuals who can steer us in the direction of understanding a little of the inexplicable. No book has had a more profound effect on my life, nor explained better many of the paradoxes of religion and religious beliefs. Campbell lifts the veil from religion to explain clearly that we must strive to understand the metaphor, since any literal interpretation can never guide us to true understanding. For additional related reading on mythology, see Clarissa Pinkola Estes "Women Who Run With the Wolves".
Rating:
Summary: A book that will change the way you think about life
Review: The single best book I have ever read. Joseph Campbell's understanding of his subject matter is unbelievable. But even more amazing is his ability to translate it into lessons and stories that are easily understandable by the reader. This is a book that will give you new insights every time you read it. An incredible work.
Rating: 
Summary: Transcending Miracles
Review: Joseph Campbell was always a classic storyteller in the traditional sense. People like him used to tell stories around fires to tribes, and now through the miracle of modern technology you can hear him weave his web of stories ranging from myths, legends, philosophies, and art in your own car. The only down side of this is that you must endure Bill Moyers' (the host of the recorded program) idiocies throughout. It's not that Bill Moyers is stupid, he just asks the wrong questions, and, on occasion, you can actually hear Campbell subtly mocking Moyers or growing frustrated with his lack of understanding. Aside from that, a great buy for all philosophy, history, myth, and fantasy lovers.
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Summary: Talking about us and you!
Review: this book read us the past and so then the future.
thank for this epoque that gave Campbell.
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Summary: An necesary reading
Review: This Campbell book is an excelent review of the principal posmodernist thougth. When we don not be able to find replies to our spirituals asks, then the power of Myth give us a way to join with our arquetypical roots. So, we could find the unique elements among the differents religions: this book open our mind to understand and tolerate those than we consider different to us
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Summary: The Myth of Good and Evil
Review: What I like about this book is that Joseph Campbell steps back and looks at the myth of good and evil where he sees that it is as if there are only two forces. To me it's as if there is a belief that one camp must destroy the other camp or be destroyed, where both sides see their side as good. While I believe that evil exists, I do not believe that there are those who are the owners of good and those who are the owners of evil. I think back to Blake's poems of Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience where he turns to whole notion of good and evil on its head.
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Summary: An fine introduction to Campbell's work
Review: Since this book is basically the transcripts from Bill Moyer's excellent televised interviews with Joseph Campbell, "The Power of Myth" frequently comes off as a "Reader's Digest" coffee table condensation of Campbell's life and work. Since the interview, by its very nature is limited in its scope and focus, "The Power of Myth" simply does not possess the depth of Campbell's other work. This really is no matter as what is present provides the reader with a fine introduction to Campbell's passionate devotion to World Myth. Campbell's life thesis, that man posseses the innate desire and need to create myth, is a compelling idea the binds us all to ourselves and each other. "The Power of Myth" is NOT to be taken as a religious tome. In that context, it certainly does come off as a cockeyed New Age concoction of non-commitment. It is meant, however, to be taken as a work of deconstructionist literary criticsm that seeks to celebrate the common threads running through all cultures and perspectives. Campbell openly celebrates man's ability to imagine as well as his devotion to ideas. He does not seek to debunk or trivialize the devout (one must be careful to realize this as they read Campbell). His scholarly intent as I see it, is to encourage and nurture the seed of faith inherent in all and encourage everyone to embark on their own heroic adventures of discovery. "The Power of Myth" serves as an excellent bibliography of sorts as it lists the many great folktales and religious texts which demand re-reading. Campbell urges his audience to read for themselves and search for their own discoveries. If one is searching for a far more in depth study of myth, I cannot praise enough Campbell's excellent "The Hero With A Thousand Faces". As is, "The Power of Myth" is a fine starting point.
Rating:
Summary: So Many Stars, One Sky.
Review: Joseph Campbell is a hero of mine. The power of his mind was mythic, pun intended. He was a humble genius with an infectious sense of humor. His message of myth and meaning came straight from his heart, from his whole being. His agenda for his students and readers alike was to spread his wonder and joy. The wonder and joy of being human. To follow your bliss as he would put it. He was that most unique of modern sages, full of wisdom without being full of himself. He was a mischievous elf that enjoyed teasing our cultural foibles at nearly every turn, but always with a light touch. I like my lessons about the mystery of life delivered with a wink. I like to feel that I am in on the joke. Not that I don't take life seriously, I do. I just try not to take it too seriously, neither did Mr. Campbell. Mr. Campbell believed, as do I, that to rightly study the mystery of life a large serving of humility with a dash of humor is requirred. God does not reveal his truths to a haughty heart. Dogmatic certainty in such matters as cultural myths can all too easily turn into hubris. Religious Crusades and Jihads come to mind. Mr. Campbell was a very wise man that recognized much as did the great Christian Mystic Meister Eckhart that God is like a great underground river. That each of our world's great myths and religions are the product of different cultures digging sacred wells into the same unseen source. If you want a greater understanding of the world's great myths then read this book.
Some of the other reviewers have chosen to attack Mr. Campbell as being a racist, a neo-fascist, a poor scholar, and the Anti-Christ himself. Since Mr. Campbell is no longer with us I will respond to these spurious allegations by pointing out that the Jewish Anti-Defamation League denies that Mr. Campbell has ever done or said anything anti-semitic and stands on the side of Mr. Campbell against such claims. That is good enough for me. Additionally, though I have read several of Mr. Campbell's books I do not remember ever reading anything in them that would support said allegations. As for the scholarship of Mr. Campbell he is without peer. No one knew as much about mythology as Mr. Campbell. No one.
Mr. Campbell was not an Anti-Christ. Because someone does not agree with you about the religious fundamentalist aspects surrounding your particular personality cult does not make them evil. Jesus was not a religious fundamentalist. He was irreligious to the core. He turned water into wine, he challenged established religious authority, he picked fruit on the Sabbath, he partied with sinners and saints, he did as the Spirit led not as men dictated he should. He pointed out that each of us has the divine nature within us, that the Kingdom of God is found within. As Jesus himself predicted, most of modern Christianity has forgotten these facts. Most of modern Christianity is legalistic, believe what I believe or you are going to hell. Really. How is this attitude any different than Islamic fundamentalism? What did the master himself have to say about religious fundamentalism? READ THE 23RD CHAPTER OF MATTHEW IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT JESUS THOUGHT.
God is like a great underground river. Meditation is the way to dig one's own sacred well into the living water of spirit. The heart is the holy of holies. Be still and know that I am God. God reveals himself to the humble in spirit, not to the proud. They have eyes but they cannot see for they fail to see with their heart. State and Tribal Religions do not preach a religion of personal freedom. They teach and preach that we must be a member of their religion or we are doomed. That we must do this and that, believe this and that. Imprison our souls within their dark and narrow understanding. Jesus would have nothing to do with such a religion. And neither do I, nor did Mr. Campbell.
" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40.
"The Love-Religion has no code or doctrine. Only God." Rumi
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