"Human beings have always been mythmakers. Archae-ologists have unearthed Neanderthal graves containing weapons, tools and the bones of a sacrificed animal, all of which suggest some kind of belief in a future world that was similar to their own."A Short History of Myth ~ by Karen Armstrong, 2005, history
Human beings have always been mythmakers. What are myths, and how have they evolved? Why do we still so desperately need them? The history of myth is the history of humanity; our stories and beliefs, our curiosity and attempts to understand the world, link us to our ancestors and each other. Myths help us make sense of the universe. Armstrong takes us from the Paleolithic period and the myths of the hunters right up to the "Great Western Transformation" of the last five hundred years and the discrediting of myth by science.
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3 comments:
I love the sound of this! Storytelling is such a huge part of our history and in every culture. And myths are a part of that. I am adding this to my wish list. Unless you tell me it's horrible, and then I won't read it. :-) I hope you have a great weekend. Stay safe and well, Bonnie.
I've been reading books by Karen Armstrong for years and have about a dozen of her books on my shelves. Just be aware that this is nonfiction, about the history of mythmaking. I visited your blog and see that you also read The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan, so this may be a book that would appeal to you.
Oh, yes I knew from the title it was nonfiction. I read a couple of Armstrong's books years ago in my pre-blogging days. I may not read a lot of nonfiction these days, but I do enjoy it when I do.😊
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