Karen Armstrong

The author of The History of God and In the Beginning: A New Reading of Genesis offers a useful, well-written introduction to mythology from the Paleolithic period to the "Great Western Transformation" that used science to discredit myth. Reprint.

A Short History of Myth

As long as we have been human, we have been mythmakers. In A Short History of Myth, Karen Armstrong holds up the mirror of mythology to show us the history of ourselves, and embarks on a journey that begins at a Neanderthal graveside and ends buried in the heart of the modern novel. Surprising, powerful and profound, A Short History of Myth examines the world's most ancient art form - the making and telling of stories - and why we still need it.

Short History Of Myth

Riley

“Myth is about the unknown; it is about that for which initially we have no words. Myth therefore looks into the heart of a great silence.”

“Like science and technology, mythology, as shall see, is not about opting out of this world, but about enabling us to live more intensely within it.” 

“We are meaning-seeking creatures. Dogs, as far as we know, do not agonize about the canine condition, worry about the plight of dogs in other parts of the world, or try to see their lives from different perspectives. But human beings fall easily into despair, and from the very beginning we invented stories that enabled our lives in a larger setting, that revealed an underlying pattern, and gave us a sense that, against all the depressing and chaotic evidence to the contrary, life had meaning and value.” 

This book, divided into seven neat chapters, provides an excellent overview of mythology. Without being too dense, the author provides an interesting argument about the true purpose of myths and how they fit into our everyday lives. As someone who has grown up Christian my whole life, it was fun to learn more about different religions and their development throughout the ages! 

October marks the beginning of an exciting new series of books which will revisit and rewrite classic myths. With contributions from Margaret Atwood and Jeanette Winterson following in November, the series is launched with Karen Armstrong's compelling investigation into myth; what it is, how it has evolved, and why we still so desperately need it. Armstrong's characteristically insightful and eloquent book serves as a brilliantly thought-provoking introduction to myth in the broadest sense.

rumbledethumps

A book on this subject that is this short is bound to have some very broad generalizations, and that is definitely true in this case. There were some interesting sections, but overall the book felt a little disjointed.

lala

Nihan 

Ashley McFarland

Michael Burkhardt

Isobel 

Sasuga

Amber C

Liam Byrne 

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.

Julia A.

Karen Armstrong's concise yet compelling investigation into the history of myth takes us from the Palaeolithic period and the mythology of the hunters right up to the 'Great Western Transformation' of the last 500 years. She shows us that the history of myth is the history of humanity, and 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, and of ourselves. 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.

A Short History of Myth

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