Once and Future Myths: The Power of Ancient Stories in Modern Times

by Phil Cousineau

Hardcover, 2001

Status

Available

Call number

291.1

Collection

Publication

Conari Pr (2001), 320 pages

Description

Phil Cousineau illustrates how myths are the stories of real life whether people are conscious of them as myths or not. He shows readers how, by becoming aware of myths in both their historical and present form, they can read the world better, with a deeper understanding of work, love, creativity, and spirituality. The book retells classic myths such as Eros and Psyche and provides new accounts of more contemporary mythmakers such as Jim Morrison and Vincent van Gogh, illustrating how these legends have affected history, culture, and individuals. The timelessness of myth is conveyed through Cousineau's discussions of the mythology of travel, mentors, cities, baseball, and vampires.

User reviews

LibraryThing member RajivC
In general, this is a good book. The first part is actually quite powerful, and I used some of the lines as a quote in one of my blog posts.

The power of story telling is something we often fail to recognise, and this is something he brings out very clearly. The myths and old stories are generally
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Western ones that he has quoted, and this is a small quibble from my side. The essential message is clear and loud.

He writes well. However, from the second half of the book - the sections on sports, cities etc - which are indeed quite powerful themes, I think, the book tends to waver. While he does indeed draw the connection between his own experiences and that of ancient/modern myths, the link is weak.

However, he does do us yeoman service, especially in this modern age when mobile phone and electronic technology is threatening to take us away from our roots.
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Language

Original language

English

Physical description

320 p.; 6.25 inches

ISBN

1573241466 / 9781573241465

UPC

645241001463

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