Special Book Review Number 5
Title: The Masks of God (4 book series)
Author: Joseph Campbell
Summary: Written between 1962 and 1968, Campbell's 4-volume work The Masks of God covers mythology from around the world, from ancient to modern. Where The Hero with a Thousand Faces focused on the commonality of mythology (the "elementary ideas"), The Masks of God series focuses upon historical and cultural variations the monomyth takes on the "folk ideas."
Dates Read: March 28 to July 2, 2021
Breakdown of Info: 4/5 stars
Diversity of Opinion: 4/5 stars
Minimum Bias: 4/5 stars
Use of Research: 5/5 stars
Overall: 17/20 stars
Review: Joseph Campbell is a fantastic writer and mythologist, and these 4 books show his dedication to the craft. While there were a few parts that definitely felt dated (and are dated), The Masks of God, however, is the only book series that take such a detailed, comprehensive look at mythology as a whole and in all of its forms. I definitely recommend giving these books a read. What makes it better is that, while they do act as a series and build upon each other, it's not necessary to read them in order. Additionally, it's not necessary to read every single book.
See the individual reviews at the following links:
- Primitive Mythology review
- Oriental Mythology review
- Occidental Mythology review
- Creative Mythology review
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