Don't Know Much About Mythology - Kenneth C. Davis [264]
—Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible
“Because Davis ranges widely and with such sparkling wit through a broad sweep of myths, his survey provides a superb starting point for entering the world of mythology.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An engaging handbook on gods, goddesses, and the civilizations they have inspired…. [Davis’s] goal as an author is to infect readers with his own intellectual eagerness, and he succeeds admirably with this idiosyncratic tour of world mythology…. Even professors will have to concede that Davis has done his research—his annotated bibliography is excellent—and that he’s a laudably conscientious scholar. An accessible and informed guide to an always-fascinating subject, and an ideal reference for the general reader.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A massive overview of every myth under the sun. Davis shatters commonly held myths about myths, differentiating them from allegories and legends, and explores the history of such tales in societies and religions around the globe, from Mesopotamia’s Gilgamesh to Genesis’ Noah. You can read here, too, about Native Americans’ use of peyote, a tempestuous Nordic god of thunder, and a debate over the meaning of evil.”
—Daily News
“Who are we? In his thoughtful and entertaining Don’t Know Much About® Mythology, Kenneth C. Davis suggests that, in large part, we are a product of our own creation, our best instincts and worst prejudices—reflected in the stories we tell. We have become our myths, Davis suggests, though they are not necessarily true. In the Americas, myths justified slavery and the destruction of native societies. Yet myth can empower, pulling us upward toward greater creativity and humanity. For all who choose to know just who we are, you must read this book.”
—Richard M. Cohen, author of Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness
“Over the long development of human culture, the stories of mythology are like a chronology of human evolution. They tell us who we are, and hint at the answer to the growing spiritual intolerance we see today: at the level of the soul, we all want the same things. In Don’t Know Much About® Mythology, Kenneth C. Davis illuminates these ideas in a popular and entertaining way. I highly recommend this book.”
—James Redfield, author of The Celestine Prophecy
“With his trademark wit and fiercely entertaining style, Kenneth Davis draws us into mythological worlds, preserving ancient mysteries and enchantments even as he clarifies, orders, and makes sure we have the stories straight. Don’t Know Much About® Mythology frames questions that arouse curiosity and produces answers that lead to astonishment. Whether you want a crash course on North American Native myths or a refresher course on Gilgamesh, this book will provide a great read and remain a permanent reference manual.”
—Dr. Maria Tatar, Department of Folklore and Mythology, Harvard University, and author of The Annotated Brothers Grimm
“In each of his Don’t Know Much About® books, Kenneth C. Davis has brought the forgotten child to the front row, reminding those of us who hated school that one size doesn’t fit all in education—that the desire to learn is far better served by the pursuit of individual passion than by classroom conformity. In Don’t Know Much About® Mythology, Davis uses the intense passion that stirred in his own soul as a fifth-grade boy reading The Odyssey to take us to a place of magic, imagination, and transcendence. Davis not only presents an entertaining exploration of humanity’s most sacred stories across many civilizations, he brings us face to face with our most distant ancestors, who were driven by innate curiosity to explain life’s mysteries. Davis’s book is a masterpiece. I couldn’t stop turning the pages.”
—Albert Clayton