Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths

I read the book cover to cover, and am satisfied with what I learned; it was money well spent. My interest in mythology was prompted by the suspicion that most, if not all, of the Old Testament is Jewish mythology. Occasional earlier connections, e.g., The Epic of Gilgamesh, exposed cultural myths that were similar to, but predated the Old Testament. This book helped frame the various aspects of myths: creation, origin, the paths of heroes, and the inevitable variations that come from repeated oral retellings by various bards, all of which are evident in the Old Testament.Aside from Greek, Old Testament, and Japanese myths, I had had but incidental contact with the mythology of other cultures, and therefore came away with a much broader background, since the book covers myths from most of the world’s regions and cultures.The book is more an anthology than an authored work. The “authors” have—appropriately—compiled the works and analyses of specialists, which they preface with their—often unnecessary and always prolix—introductory remarks and marginal explanations.Part of what drives this is the authors’ agenda: they are rabid feminists, and this bias is evident and irritating. The frequent unidiomatic “she or he,” remarks that amount to encouraging the reader to accept women as real people, and the preponderance of female sources cause the reader to wonder if the scholarship is exhaustive and believable. This “rub the reader’s nose in it” grade-school taunting both diminishes the authors (better, editors) and distracts the reader. Here is a typical example: “[E]ach teller stresses those events and characteristics that are most meaningful for her and her audience, and she glosses over or leaves out what is not valued or not understood by her audience.” The four feminine pronouns easily could be omitted: Each teller stresses the events and characteristics that are most meaningful for the audience, and glosses over or omits what is not valued or understood. The sentence also exemplifies the wordiness so characteristic of the rest of the book.The book includes, legitimately, African myths, but expands this to “African-American” myths that are not myths, but merely folktales. An obvious hat tip to make the book “relevant” for Negro students. Agenda, again.The book is a college textbook, but the editors view students as children. This is especially noticeable in the opening “What to Expect” introduction to each chapter. This section, seemingly in the style of one of the editors, is notable for the patronizing use of “you”: you may want to consider; as you read, you should . . . . This comes across as directions to grade-school children. And, in what I presume to be a concern for the delicate sensitivities of college students, the authors restrict their description of sex to “slept with,” while their sources, in more scholarly—and precisely correct—terms, use “intercourse.”Further evidence of this patronizing attitude is found in the marginal comments, many of which merely restate the obvious, and some of which duplicate material in the text.Formatting is another problem. The marginal notes are in green text on green background, the latter of which fades from dark to light. This is hard to read under all lighting conditions.There was not even one mention of Japanese or Australian myths. Of the former I know somewhat, and find it shameful that these were passed over in favor of “African-American” myths, which were not myths at all, but merely modern folk tales that slather guilt upon people who never owned slaves, and pacify the people who never were slaves.The book concludes with assessments of modern folklore, and attempts to attach these to mythology. In these, too, the feminist agenda galls. Most of the sources are females. A benefit, however, to the serious reader is that this final section includes analyses of “literature” that only those with too much time on their hands should read, examples being Star Trek, Harry Potter, and vampire stories. Now I know what they were about, but I didn’t have to read them to find out. Thank you, ladies.Another lecturer on mythology, Professor Elizabeth Vandiver, draws a clear distinction between myths, legends, and folk tales, definitions that would benefit the readers of this book. Vandiver presents a thoroughly scholarly treatment of myths; the listener (course lectures published by The Teaching Company) comfortably absorbs the material without having to filter out any agenda. She identifies, then eliminates, legends and folk tales, and restricts her discussions to that which legitimately qualifies as myth. (Surprisingly, Vandiver is not listed as a source in Introduction to Mythology.)

I got this edition for a mythology class. It’s an edition behind what my class was using, but other than a few pages being off, it worked perfectly, as well as being a fraction of the price to rent!

its exactly what I needed for the class and it was as described. It did have notes from the prior student in the book (in a few pages of the sections and also had a few note papers with their notes on it as well) however its not a deal breaker. Its a book and I needed it, it takes two seconds to take out someone else's leftovers.

The book has half a page missing, the last person wrote in it and also used a highlighter on many pages. I am distracted by what the person wrote instead of looking for the page I need to be on. But the book is crisp, and .5 a page lighter!

I loved this book almost as much as I loved this class. It doesn't just center around what most people think of as mythology. It goes far beyond Greek and Roman. It gives insight into older and newer mythology, it gives a comprehensive look at mythology as a conceot and several views from which to perceive it. I thought I knew about mythology. Now I know how little I thought I knew.

My favorite part of this textbook was that it included mythos from a variety of different cultures across the world. It provided an inclusive look at varying mythologies, connecting them together with explanatory chapters guiding your reading of the passages. Very insightful and informative.

It's a rental, and it came to me in rough shape, we will have to see about returning good book, well written and very engaging!!!

The notes in this textbook on the sides make the reading a little easier to understand for class. Glad it has a used purchasing option so it can be reused by others!

So much interesting information!

It’s a used textbook...it got the job done.

Good condition

Love this book, was very helpful for school.

I had to get this for an online college course. It is not worth it. Go find it somewhere else for cheaper or free. I spent 100$ on this thing and I am not happy with it.