Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell was an influential American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work covers many aspects of the human experience. Campbell's most well-known book is 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' (1949), in which he discusses his theory of the journey of the archetypal hero found in world mythologies. His philosophy has been summarized by his phrase 'Follow your bliss.'
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Hero with a Thousand Faces
This book explores the theory that important myths from around the world which have survived for thousands of years all share a fundamental structure, which the author calls the "monomyth." It outlines the stages of this monomyth, which include a hero's call to adventure, a descent into the underworld, and a triumphant return. The book also discusses how these universal patterns can provide a framework for understanding human experience and the world around us.
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2. The Masks Of God
"The Masks of God" is a comprehensive exploration of the world's mythologies, delving into the symbolic and functional roles that myths have played in various cultures throughout history. The author examines the origins and development of myths, tracing their evolution from the primitive to the modern era, and discusses how these myths reflect the spiritual and psychological insights of the human race. The work is divided into multiple volumes, each focusing on different mythological traditions, including primitive mythology, Oriental mythology, Occidental mythology, and creative mythology, providing a thorough analysis of the ways in which myths serve as a vital and universal language of the human experience.
