What are myths? How have they evolved? And why do we still so desperately need them?
The history of myth is the history of humanity; our stories and beliefs, our curiosity and attempts to understand the world, link us to our ancestors and each other. Myths help us make sense of the universe. Armstrong takes us from the Palaeolithic period and the myths of the hunters right up to the "Great Western Transformation" of the last five hundred years and the discrediting of myth by science.
Heralding a major series of retellings of international myths by authors from around the world, Armstrong's characteristically insightful and eloquent book serves as a brilliant and thought-provoking introduction to myth in the broadest sense - and why we dismiss it only at our peril.
"Witty, informative and contemplative: Ms. Armstrong can simplify complex ideas, but she is never simplistic." - New York Times Book Review
"Armstrong writes with sensitivity and wisdom. She employs a breadth of learning that reflects the scintillating, shifting light and shade of human experience." - The Times
This analysis of the role that myth has played in human history from Paleolithic times to the present is short and, depending on your response to the author's writing, dull or witty. This listener falls in the middle, although she does wish the author's point--that the rise of reason and loss of myth are causing havoc in modern society--were presented with more verve. Sandra Burr tries her best to make the book listenable by infusing energy into her reading. While enthusiastic, her efforts are delivered at a consistently high pitch, which is tiring on the ear. Nonetheless, Burr's pacing is strong, which helps makes Armstrong's serious subject easier to follow. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine
About the Author
Karen Armstrong's first book, the bestselling Through the Narrow Gate (1981), described her seven years as a nun in a Roman Catholic order. She has published numerous books, including A History of God, which has been translated into thirty languages, A History of Jerusalem and In the Beginning: A New Reading of Genesis. Her more recent works include Islam: A Short History and Buddha, which was an international bestseller. Since 1982 she has been a freelance writer and broadcaster. She lives in London.
