The Meaning of Myth

By Neel Burton

Deal Ends: Fri 29th August

Not just the stories, but what they mean. Are myths really the repositories of deep wisdom and mystical secrets?Readers’ Favorite Book Award WinnerWhat is myth, and why does it have such a hold on the human imagination? How does myth relate to near forms such as legend and fairy tale, and to other modes of understanding such as religion and science? What is a hero, what is a monster, and what function does magic serve? How has our relationship with myth and mythology changed over the centuries? And are there any modern myths?These are a few of the fascinating questions that psychiatrist and philosopher Neel Burton explores in the first part of this book. In the second part, he puts theory into practice to unravel 12 of the most captivating Greek myths, including Echo and Narcissus, Eros and Psyche, and Prometheus and Pandora (see the full contents list below).These myths have been haunting us for millennia, but are they really, as has been claimed, the repositories of deep wisdom and mystical secrets? Get your copy now to find out.Staggeringly exquisite… The Meaning of Myth by Neel Burton is teaching and writing at its most superb and is as entertaining as you could ever wish for. —Readers' Favorite ★★★★★In this fascinating read, psychiatrist and philosopher Neel Burton unpacks 12 popular tales—from Eros and Psyche to Orpheus and Eurydice—to explore the meaning of myth in today’s society and its relation to life, science, and religion. —BookBub (Featured New Release)Burton’s erudition is apparent throughout this highly readable construction, balanced by a personable style and subtle humor. —The US Review of Books (Recommended)A profound psychological approach… Fascinating stuff. —James Sale, author of Gods, Heroes, and UsAccessible and entertaining... Burton expounds some of the most intriguing Greek myths to shed light on this fascinating expression of the human imagination. —Prof Armand D'Angour, classical scholar and author of Socrates in LoveBurton is never short of an interesting and sharp judgment. —Prof Peter Toohey, Psychology TodayContentsPart I: The Meaning of Myth1. In the beginning was the word2. Myth, legend, fable, and fairy tale3. Myth, religion, and ritual4. Myth and science5. The history of myth and mythology6. Myth, metaphor, and allegory7. Plato’s myths8. Magic9. Heroes10. Monsters11. Misogyny12. Myth in the modern worldPart II: 12 Myths Decoded13. Echo and Narcissus14. Eros and Psyche15. Seers and oracles: Teiresias, Cassandra, and Laocoön16. Chiron, the wounded healer17. Pygmalion, the passionate artist18. Prometheus, the fallen rebel19. Orpheus and Eurydice20. Mother goddesses: Demeter and Persephone21. Perseus and Medusa22. Theseus and the Minotaur23. Dionysus, the twice-born liberator24. Plato’s Myth of Er