A slightly helpful book that, in a mere 150 pages or so, gives an overview of the role of myth in human existence. Slightly helpful in that, it does give the reader a sense of how myth has functioned, or not functioned, over the vast sweep of prehistory and history. It also makes the important point that mythos is not the same as logos--this is something that is very hard for us postmoderns, who are steeped in philosophical materialism, to understand.

Is the book overly simple? Yes. Would this work as a college text on myth? No. Does it cover basic points of mythic history? Yeah, pretty well. So, if you want a very quick, brush up book, this might work for you.

BUT, keep in mind that this is the first book of a series of novels based on myth. So, using the logic of the market, it is only natural that Karen Armstrong--scholar of religions--be used as a shill for selling the novels listed in the frontispiece of the book. Wonder of wonders, Armstrong says myth only makes sense in the context of liturgy (very catholic perspective, but a valid one). Today, nobody believes in myths anymore (malarkey), and there are no rituals in modern life (has she never seen a football game?), so, of course, our mythic experience can be found in NOVELS!!! Read novels, maybe the ones listed by this publisher in the front of this book, and you'll have a mythic experience, get it? The book left me feeling a bit dirty and used. Never thought I'd say that about a treatise on myth.