Book Review: The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell is the most famous book on story structure that is not about story structure. This book isn't even much of a text book but rather it is one of those book essays that tries to be important  but was written because someone needed a paycheck.

One could argue that this book is not designed to entertain but rather to inform, but I would have to counter with the idea that all books if well crafted should compel the reader to keep reading. 

Exceptions are those books like dictionaries and encyclopedias. Math books may fall into that category but this book is neither.   

I could go on on the topic of books and entertainment factor but this is not that kind of post. 

The overall issue with Joseph Campbell is that I learned a great deal about myth but far less about his theory and how myths interlock into that theory. I would have to say I learned of a great number of stories of the past that I hope to read about in the future.

That would make this a book about other books and the other books are better reads than this one. If you want a book on story structure this is not what you are looking for and if you want a book on myth this falls short as well. 

Who should read this book? the determined.

Books Read: 28 of 5000

Pages 416

Total Pages Read for 'The 5,000 Project' 6,612