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| The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Mythos Books) | 
| Author: Joseph Campbell
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy Used: $5.15
You Save: $11.80 (70%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  99 reviews
Sales Rank: 2058
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.8
ISBN: 0691017840
Dewey Decimal Number: 291.13
EAN: 9780691017846
ASIN: 0691017840
Publication Date: March 1, 1972
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Some of the pages are stained but still readable
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Amazon.com
Originally written by Campbell in the '40s-- in his pre-Bill Moyers days -- and famous as George Lucas' inspiration for "Star Wars," this book will likewise inspire any writer or reader in its well considered assertion that while all stories have already been told, this is *not* a bad thing, since the *retelling* is still necessary. And while our own life's journey must always be ended alone, the travel is undertaken in the company not only of immediate loved ones and primal passion, but of the heroes and heroines -- and myth-cycles -- that have preceded us.
Product Description
Joseph Campbell's classic cross-cultural study of the hero's journey has inspired millions and opened up new areas of research and exploration. Originally published in 1949, the book hit the New York Times best-seller list in 1988 when it became the subject of The Power of Myth, a PBS television special. The first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating path of contemporary life. Examining heroic myths in the light of modern psychology, it considers not only the patterns and stages of mythology but also its relevance to our lives today--and to the life of any person seeking a fully realized existence. Myth, according to Campbell, is the projection of a culture's dreams onto a large screen; Campbell's book, like Star Wars, the film it helped inspire, is an exploration of the big-picture moments from the stage that is our world. It is a must-have resource for both experienced students of mythology and the explorer just beginning to approach myth as a source of knowledge.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 94 more reviews...
Campbell's definative work May 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This work is Campbell's most famous and has been the source most quoted as being the inspiration for "The Hero's Journey" as outlined in many Hollywood screenplays. Most notably George Lucas' Star Wars Saga. While many may find the work to be more scholarly in its approach and not as easily accessable as some of the books written about Campbell's ideas, it is a necessary part of the student of mythology's library. Some may find it easier to get acquainted with the teacher's work through other volumes of his collected works, and The Hero with a Thousand Faces may be an easier read after one is already abreast of Campbell's modus operendi. A casual reader may find that the scholar's approach to be a bit hard to get through, although this only serves to prove the point that Campbell's scope of knowledge and research was vast. And yet this is an essential component to illustrating his theme, in that it ties all the disparate cultures under one mythic banner. Campbell found that all the heroes in all cultures, despite what costumes they wore, or weapons they carried, all followed one hero thread that cut across all cultures and nationalities. His work serves to remind the tellers of tales that despite all that makes us different, we are all the same in the most important way. We are all human. To students of mythology this is a must read!
 Campbell's King! May 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There's nothing I can say about Campbell that hasn't been written already. I used this masterpiece of his work to write my Master's Thesis and got nominated for a creative thesis award. Thank you, Joseph Campbell, may your soul rest in peace!
This book changed the way I view the World March 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Ok, this is the big one! Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With A Thousand Faces" is a revolution in the field of Anthropology of Religion. His lucid study of Mythology has literally changed the way the world views ITSELF. Ok I'm sorry I don't want to overstate things, but I don't think I am. If you read this book and actually understand what he is saying you wont be the same.
Campbell has found the creative archtypes found throughout history in the mythologies of all cultures. There is an excellent blend of classical psychology as well as Occidental and Oriental Mythology references.
If you have never read Joseph Campbell and you love Mythology BUY THIS BOOK! Buy the POWER OF MYTH and watch the video with Bill Moyers.
Joseph Campbell is the best.
See Things Differently February 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
All of life is a journey and we our the hero, so learn to see how you are creating the metaphors around you and how to interpret them through the concepts and work of Joseph Campbell. Joseph Campbell understood group consciousness before it became a religion - I appreciate his facts and knowledge behind his work.
Star Wars connection January 17, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I first learned about this book, when I read that George Lucas used it as a template for creating his Star Wars movies. If you look closely at Star Wars having read this book, you can see how it does reflect the common patterns of the Hero's Story, as contained in mythology. You might find yourself seeing as I did how the hero character relates to the story of your own life, and your own decisions.
There is a call to adventure, the hero usually refuses the call, and then, may be forced by circumstances to take the call, meets the mentor, crosses thresholds,undergoes ordeals, and so on. This refusal of the call I have seen in many classic movies recently such as Casablanca, and To Have and Have Not, and Key Largo.
Another book, The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler takes this book, and shows how the elements have been used in different movies, and goes into the archetypes involved, and gives us a great summary in about 8 pages of the steps of the journey, giving a more comprehensive explanantion later, showing how this pattern is applied in diverse movies such as Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Lion King, and many others. A common archetype you see in movies is the border guard, and the trickster.
I find the audio format helpful, as it is quicker to glean the information than from the book itself, and it does tell stories from all over the world. I particularly like the story of Cuchulainn, the Irish hero, having heard about this since I was a kid.
Another movie worth checking for comparison is Batman Begins.
I hope you find this review helpful, and, if you do, please click yes.
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