I think this book is an incredibly important one for those of us raised in the modern, Western world. She is exactly right, that mythical thinking has fallen into disrepute. In this very short book, she does an excellent job of explaining the role mythic thinking has played in human history and discussing ways it can continue to do so today. Here's a few more excerpts from this book that really spoke to me:
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Mythology was designed to help us to cope with the problematic human predicament. Mythology is an art form that points beyond history to what is timeless in human existence, helping us get beyond the chaotic flux of random events, and glimpse the core of reality. (6-7)
In the ancient world, a creation myth was usually recited during a period of extremity when people felt they needed an infusion of divine energy. Its purpose was primarily therapeutic. The idea was to tap into timeless energies that supported human existence. (70-71)
The experience of reading a novel has certain qualities that remind us of mythology. It projects the reader into another world, parallel but apart from their ordinary lives. Like mythology, an important novel is transformative. If we allow it to do so, any powerful work of art can invade our being and change it forever. (147-48)
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I think this book is an incredibly important one for those of us raised in the modern, Western world. She is exactly right, that mythical thinking has fallen into disrepute. In this very short book, she does an excellent job of explaining the role mythic thinking has played in human history and discussing ways it can continue to do so today. Here's a few more excerpts from this book that really spoke to me:
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