Customer Reviews

Joseph Campbell: A Fire in the Mind

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The fire in Joseph Campbell's mind burned through the dross of a mundane existence and forged a character who was ultimately "transparent to transcendence" (his own remarkable phrase).

The book is dense at times because of the Larsens' careful documentation and because Campbell's very life was so dense with accomplishment and discovery. I found the Larsens' scholarship to be impeccable and the coverage of a remarkable life thorough. Because they were friends of the Campbells, an air of authenticiy is added to their work. My only disappointment was their lack of reporting of his deeper response to his illness and impending death. I feel more information in this delicate area would have been appropriate because of the biographical nature of the work and because of Campbell's own personal spiritual belief system.

I highly recommend this volume to anyone who wishes to learn more about one of the most formidable intellectuals of the 20th century. Because the book is so well-written, entertaining, and well-documented, it will enliven the days of your reading...and well beyond!

After viewing his lectures on video and watching the interviews with Bill Moyers I became increasing curious about Joseph Campbell, the man, not just the scholar and how one could devote his life to his work.

This authorized biography does not disappoint. It is a wealth of information from personal journals, letters, interviews with friends and family, most generously provided by his widow, Jean Erdman Campbell.

Yes, it is a lengthy tome since it is chronicaling the life and works of one of this centuries most prolific writers and original thinkers, well worth the time it's taken to read it.

Joseph Campbell, the eldest of three, had progressive parents who recognized their childrens natural talents and provided the best education to ameliorate their gifts. As I read, I was impressed how from a young age, Joseph Campbell viewed his world and continued to pursue answers to questions, and in turn, enlighten others through his lectures and writings.

His relationship with friends, colleagues, mentors and his wife is tightly woven into this biography, he was grateful for all the support he received from his "fans." I was constantly surprised with whom he met along his life's path, John Steinbeck, Carl G. Jung to name a few.

I am now embarking on reading Jung, influenced by Joseph Campbells admiration of his works and contributions to the study of the psyche. Hoping to open a new way of thinking myself.

Since Joseph Campell was such a prolific writer of journals, letters, essays and books, this book was able to capture, in such detail, not only his life events but also the evolution of his studies and thoughts about myth, art, religion and the world. I originally checked this book out at the library but I am buying it as a reference guide because it touches on so many fascinating points about religion and the most prominent spiritual leaders in the last century.

Fans of Joseph Campbell may gain additional insight into how to live an authentic life by considering the chance occurrences in his life and the choices he made from an early age.

His anxiety regarding various life changing situations and the consequent choices offer a rare insight to those who enjoy (suffer?) the artist's temperament.

The Larsens have presented a satisfying panorama of Joseph Campbell's life. I wonder how they were able to choose from the wealth of information available, but am grateful for their work.

Phenomenal.Never mind that people think I'm pretentious if I carry it around: Read it and you will not care what anyone thinks:What a handsome man he was,what a focus: Joy.His notes,his diary,sensitive students writing this automatic genius.It's really good.F haters.

Joseph Campbell has been walking beside me since I read Hero with a Thousand Faces in the early 70s, which was then the bible for the yoga society I was initiated into. I met him at a small lecture in Cleveland sometime that decade, and bought and read his Mask of God books. But I didn't know Joseph Campbell the individual until I read this book, which is a master piece of weaving Campbell's early journals and correspondence into an necklace of jewels that now seem to hang around my neck like a mala. Campbell's life path and his writing are perfectly blended in this book so that his teaching of the underlying mythos that informs each of our lives is brought to the surface of consciousness and given to you as a gift from the Goddess Herself.

I cried when the hero dies at the end of this book, and even as I write these words my heart catches and holds this delicious sorrow. During this week as I finished the book I was also watching the DVD set of Mythos I got for Christmas. I recommend your doing this: invest in both the book and one of his DVD lectures. Reread Hero, if you have not already read it. Awaken the power of Mythos within you and as Campbell says: Follow your Bliss.

I had already borrowed this twice from our library but it has soooo much in it that I wanted to own it if possible.
Thanks to Amazon it has been possible.
This is a book that you have to commit yourself to in reading. There is so much beauty of thought and depth of philosophy that it is something one wants to return to over and over.
I am grateful to Amazon and the seller for making it possible for me to add it to my library.