Comments on: A Short History of Myth http://www.themyths.co.uk/?p=1 Companion website to the acclaimed Canongate series, The Myths Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:45:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dream Angus http://www.themyths.co.uk/?p=1&cpage=1#comment-264 Dream Angus Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:02:24 +0000 #comment-264 [...] Karen Armstrong A Short History of Myth [...] [...] Karen Armstrong A Short History of Myth [...]

]]> By: Aneesha Myles Shewani http://www.themyths.co.uk/?p=1&cpage=1#comment-48 Aneesha Myles Shewani Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:21:01 +0000 #comment-48 The book contains the story of transition - from mythos to logos - and why modern society fails to believe in myths. While it traces the history, the evolution, and the slow disintegration of myths during varioius stages of human advancement, it also endorses modern authors and storytellers to create significant humantarian myths that can recreate the magic and mysticism that is absent in our modern lives. I personally liked the interpretation of how society came to worship the Mother Goddess, and the concept of the hunters empathizing with the hunted. If you have been wondering why myths are always ancient, and why there are no modern myths, except for legends like those of Vampires and SuperMan, this book provides a quick insight. The book contains the story of transition – from mythos to logos – and why modern society fails to believe in myths. While it traces the history, the evolution, and the slow disintegration of myths during varioius stages of human advancement, it also endorses modern authors and storytellers to create significant humantarian myths that can recreate the magic and mysticism that is absent in our modern lives. I personally liked the interpretation of how society came to worship the Mother Goddess, and the concept of the hunters empathizing with the hunted. If you have been wondering why myths are always ancient, and why there are no modern myths, except for legends like those of Vampires and SuperMan, this book provides a quick insight.

]]> By: Randy http://www.themyths.co.uk/?p=1&cpage=1#comment-6 Randy Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:47:26 +0000 #comment-6 Karen Armstrong's *A Short History of Myth* provides an excellent introduction to the psychological and social aspects of mythology. She surveys six different historical periods, focusing on how myth evolved in each of them. She treats the topic with amazing clarity, brevity, and precision. This book is by no means revolutionary: Armstrong draws quite heavily on a legacy of great research and analysis done in the twentieth century. But even if you have already studied mythology to some degree, I still recommend this book. After taking multiple courses in mythology at the university, the book still introduced me to some new ideas and added structure to my previously scattered thoughts. Karen Armstrong’s *A Short History of Myth* provides an excellent introduction to the psychological and social aspects of mythology. She surveys six different historical periods, focusing on how myth evolved in each of them. She treats the topic with amazing clarity, brevity, and precision.

This book is by no means revolutionary: Armstrong draws quite heavily on a legacy of great research and analysis done in the twentieth century. But even if you have already studied mythology to some degree, I still recommend this book. After taking multiple courses in mythology at the university, the book still introduced me to some new ideas and added structure to my previously scattered thoughts.

]]> By: Spencer http://www.themyths.co.uk/?p=1&cpage=1#comment-5 Spencer Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:27:44 +0000 #comment-5 This is a great intro into the whole Myth series. It's a really nice book that sets the tone of the whole series - the exploration of the myth and how they apply to the modern world. In a time when it would be easy to dismiss myths as something from the past that no longer speak to us, this book is a breath of fresh air that reminds us why myths are not only still relevant, but still powerful. This is a great intro into the whole Myth series. It’s a really nice book that sets the tone of the whole series – the exploration of the myth and how they apply to the modern world. In a time when it would be easy to dismiss myths as something from the past that no longer speak to us, this book is a breath of fresh air that reminds us why myths are not only still relevant, but still powerful.

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