Joseph Campbell sought to distill the essence of the world's religions and mythologies and find their common truths. In doing so, he lived his life with all the courage, passion, and vitality of the mythic heroes he studied. The Larsens--who knew Campbell for over 25 years--provide an intimate and fascinating account of this great teacher, writer, and man. Photographs.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Tinged with reverence, this monumental but inert biography loosely measures Joseph Campbell's thought and achievements against his own self-defined quest for a personal Mythos. Psychotherapist Stephen Larsen ( The Shaman's Doorway ) and art historian Robin Larsen ( Emanuel Swedenborg ) recreate Campbell's boyhood enriched by Native American lore, his fateful meetings with Jung and Krishnamurti, his rivalry with John Steinback, his late sexual awakening and happy marriage to dancer Jean Erdman. They chart his little-known trajectory from budding Communist short-story writer in the 1930s to largely apolitical interpreter of the world's mythic heritage. Though it intermittently throws shafts of light on Campbell's inner journey, the book's first half, based largely on his journals and letters, stays too close to his own version of himself, while the second half, tracing the eminent mythologist as a public figure, feels hollow. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
The Larsens, students and friends of the late Campbell, draw upon early journals and private papers as well as extensive interviews in this first authorized biography of the acclaimed mythologist. Campbell, who focused public imagination on myth, is a fascinating subject whose life embodied as much serendipity as any myth. The Larsens's study provides a deep understanding of the man who "followed his bliss." However, as in many biographies written by friends of the subject, their tone is one of love and respect--where even personal shortcomings are treated with tenderness. Later biographers may treat Campbell more objectively, yet they may find it impossible to give readers the experience of the man himself as clearly as the Larsens do here. Campbell lovers will enjoy the book. Skeptics may be touched by the integrity and humanness revealed. Recommended.
- Lucy Patrick, Florida State Univ. Lib., Tallahassee
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Lucy Patrick, Florida State Univ. Lib., Tallahassee
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Embers for a Fire in Anyone's Mind,
By
This review is from: A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell (Paperback)
An excellent book. The contents of this book made for some of the most interesting reading I have ever done. This will be a treasured hardcover book on my shelves for the rest of my life. Campbell not only taught us during his life, but is stepping over the threshold of time to continue teaching us lessons on what life can hold for those who are willing to follow their Bliss. I have only felt this strongly about a book a dozen times in my life. As for availability, business has never had enough vision and foresight to make available what feeds ones soul. Have this book reprinted for yourself if you can't purchase it!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent account of Campbell's rich life.,
By
This review is from: A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell (Paperback)
Not one for biographies I nevertheless enjoyed this one tremendously. It is quite an intimate account of Campbell's life presented in an interesting format of his personal journal entries and recollections of others inbetween the Larsens' well written flow. Who could not marvel at this man's brilliant life? The only problem with this biography is that in light of its length it loses a bit of the focus on Campbell's vision near the last few decades of his life. The many anecdotes of friends he accumulated in the 70's and 80's are nice but I would've liked to have kept more with Campbell's journal entries (if he did indeed keep up with personal writings). The last several chapters show Campbell living his life in the parasitic throes of 'new-agers', and portray them (unintentionally) as enjoying his company for their own benefit to the point where he probably was unable to get much of his own work done. Of course, who could blame people for wanting to be near the man and hear his erudition? But I would like to know more about his personal thoughts in his last years. Joseph Campbell lived a truly enchanted life and will be the teacher for the next century in more ways than one.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a wonderful look into the rich life of a great philosopher,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell (Paperback)
FROM THE BIG SUR AND ROBINSON JEFFERS TO THE MYSTERY WORLD OF JAMES JOYCE'S FINNIGAN'S WAKE, THE LARSENS TAKE US TO ALL THE PLACES IN MIND AND LOCATION THAT CAMPBELL FREQUENTED. HIS LONG-TIME CONNECTIONS TO GREAT NOVELISTS LIKE JOHN STEINBECK AND NEW THOUGHT THINKERS LIKE MICHAEL MURPHY OF THE ESALEN INSTITUTE REVEAL THE ECLETIC PANORAMA THAT WAS THIS GREAT, AND SOMETIMES UNDER-APPRECIATED, MAN'S PURVIEW.IT IS VERY SAD THAT THE PUBLISHER NO LONGER BELIEVES THAT THERE IS AN AUDIENCE FOR THE DETAILS OF THIS WONDERFUL MAN'S LIFE.
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