Meaningful and thought-provoking

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is of course a classic, valued by artists, novelists and humanities-lovers for decades. Interesting note: George Lucas and Star Wars were heavily influences by this book.

Outside of religious scripture, this is one of the most meaningful and thought-provoking books I've read. Drawing on archetypes - deep universal constructs in our human psyche - Campbell explains how we are all on (or could be on) a meaningful heroic journey.

This book was written when the ideas of Freud and Jung were all the rage. Freud has not aged too well. But Jung had a lot of intuition about the human soul that still resonates.

Campbell includes many fascinating accounts of dreams and world myths. "Myth" in this sense means a story with meaningful symbols that convey universal insights, as well as teaching the values of the culture in which the myth originated. Jung and Freud believed that dreams and myths contain subconscious truths.

I've owned the hard copy for years but found it difficult reading. I don't think Campbell was a great writer. But his ideas are mind-blowing. In audio-book form I have finally been able to enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.

159 people found this helpful

Hard to finish

I love the ideas that Joseph Campbell has given us in his career. I just don't think this book is a concise enough presentation of those ideas. I listen to lots of different audio books while driving, and many are very engaging. This one just wasn't... I could never follow what was being presented, and it seemed all over the place. I don't think the material was "over my head," I just think I got bored listening to it. Often times the quotes from the myths and stories read by the female and the british narrators were just thrown in without introduction or explanation. I would occasionally hear an idea that resonated with me, where I'd think "ohhh cool!" But that happened only once in a while, in the middle of a sea or drawn out boring narration.

Sorry, love JC, but not this audiobook:

114 people found this helpful

Very good if hungry for more Campbell

Where does The Hero with a Thousand Faces rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is an earlier work of Campbell, but not at all where I would start. Start with The Power of Myth and The Wisdom of Joseph Campbell and hear Campbell in his own voice. Much clearer and much greater impact. They are much more accessible, and once hear Campbell in his own voice you'll much more easily be able to access his more scholarly works and you'll also be more forgiving of the passionless, reading of Arthur Morey. The reader was a real miss on this one. But the deeper exploration on myth is fantastic.

113 people found this helpful

The Connections between the Myths

This is a book I have been meaning to read for years. Literally. And now I have finally learned what all the fuss is about. Campbell takes the reader/listener on an intellectual journey showing the common themes, characters, and events (plot developments?) to the myths of the world. This is an awesome feat and in no way should be seen as denigrating the beauty and power of the world's mythologies and religious traditions. Campbell was an intellectual of the first order and he makes his enthusiasm for the subject a contagious thing. Now I see why this book had such a profound impact on George Lucas and how he drew so heavily on it in constructing his Star Wars mythos (and since I am writing this on Star Wars day--May the Fourth be with you all!). Loved this book and will look for more titles by Campbell and other writers about the ideas in this classic.

35 people found this helpful

A test to see how bad you want answers

The test is in the form of the main narrator. He’s slow in reading every word and very dull. Then again this is not for those who wish to be entertained, but for those who are seeking clarity on the origins of their belief system and to have their mind opened to the fact that all religions and mythology are seeking to describe that which is eternal in ways that allow us to grasp in a very small measure the nature of all that was, all that is, and all that will be.

31 people found this helpful

good book, though tougher to follow on audio forma

would suggest you get the physical book, great stories and context to patterns across all cultures

26 people found this helpful

rough narration good content

it was disappointing that such rich material was a bit like listening to paint dry. I really did not enjoy this production.

26 people found this helpful

The Listener with a Thousand Pauses

I love stories, and having heard this book mentioned in a number of other books I decided to dive in and experience it for myself. I'm not sure what I expected of this book, but I was expecting some sort of "greatness" from it. While I'll agree that this is a thoughtful, and thorough treatment of the art of storytelling, and the commonality of stories across cultures, I'm not sure it's worth listening to unless you're really deep into understanding stories over time. Listening to this book required frequent pauses, both so I could understand and appreciate, and so that I could rest. This book has the feel of a 14 hour lecture, taught day after day in a dark lecture hall by a bland lecturer. I'll admit that this was probably the style back in 1949 when this book was written, but for most listeners I think you're better suited with something derived from this master work than with this original.

22 people found this helpful

I could listen to this a 1000 times...

I would have to listen to this audio presentation a 1000 time to grasp the depth of this material.
Yet, I feel as if I have accomplished something getting through it once.
My gray matter is on fire. 😀🔥😀

20 people found this helpful

Do you have an inappropriate love of Freud?

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The narrators were wonderful! Smooth voices, the perfect blend of soothing/bland enough for easy listening/not lulling you to sleep. The book itself is rubbish. I read a summary of the book elsewhere and jumped feet-first into it without reading any other summary.... Which would have prevented me from listening to this... this fan book of Freud. What myths were discussed were so overshadowed by the supposedly innate desire of wanting to sleep with/murder your parents that I could hardly focus on anything else. I fear I will have unwholesome nightmares tonight. If you want a book that looks at how every single religion in the world is Oedipal, this is your book. I myself rather like not being terrorized by the thought of goddesses not representing my mother when they try to seduce/kill the heroes, but hey, I won't judge if you do.

What could Joseph Campbell have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not have been so lusty for Freud. I am seriously traumatized

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, though they were wonderful at their job. Anyone who can talk about boys being forced to drink blood with such a calm air is the person I want soothing my shattered soul after I listen to boys drinking blood.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The few myths that were discussed were ones I liked and not all of them were ruined by the author

Any additional comments?

I cannot stress how good the narrators were and how soul-scarring this book is.

12 people found this helpful