Don't Know Much About Mythology: Everything You Need to Know About the Greatest Stories in Human History but Never Learned - Hardcover

Davis, Kenneth C

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 006019460X ISBN 13: 9780060194604

Publisher: Harper, 2005

Synopsis

The latest installment in the New York Times bestselling Don't Know Much About® series -- a magical journey into the timeless world of mythology

It has been fifteen years since Kenneth C. Davis first dazzled audiences with his instant classic Don't Know Much About® History, vividly bringing the past to life and proving that Americans don't hate history, they just hate the dull, textbook version they were fed in school. With humor, wit, and a knack for storytelling, Davis has been bringing readers of all ages up to speed on history, geography, and science ever since. Now, in the classic traditions of Edith Hamilton and Joseph Campbell, he turns his talents to the world of myth.

Where do we come from? Why do stars shine and the seasons change? What is evil? Since the beginning of time, people have answered such questions by crafting imaginative stories that have served as religion, science, philosophy, and popular literature. In his irreverent and popular question-and-answer style, Davis introduces and explains the great myths of the world, as well as the works of literature that have made them famous. In a single volume, he tackles Mesopotamia's Gilgamesh, the first hero in world mythology; Achilles and the Trojan War; Stonehenge and the Druids; Thor, the Nordic god of thunder; Chinese oracle bones; the use of peyote in ancient Native American rites; and the dramatic life and times of the man who would be Buddha.

Ever familiar and instructive, Davis shows why the ancient tales of gods and heroes -- from Mount Olympus to Machu Picchu, from ancient Rome to the icy land of the Norse -- continue to speak to us today, in our movies, art, language, and music. For mythology novices and buffs alike, and for anyone who loves a good story, Don't Know Much About® Mythology is a lively and insightful look into the greatest stories ever told.

About this title

About the Author:

Kenneth C. Davis is the New York Times best-selling author of Don't Know Much About® History, Don't Know Much About® Geography, Don't Know Much About® The Civil War, and Don't Know Much About® The Bible.

People magazine has said that "Reading [Davis] is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had."

A frequent visitor to classrooms and teacher groups, Davis has appeared often on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, National Public Radio, and many other television and radio shows. He is a contributing editor to USA Weekend, which features his Don't Know Much About® quizzes on a variety of subjects.

Born and educated in Mt. Vernon, New York, he now lives in New York City and Vermont with his wife, Joann, and their two children, Jenny and Colin.

From School Library Journal:

Adult/High School-An enthusiastic introduction to world mythology. As a child, Davis was enthralled by the tales of gods and heroes, and he makes a compelling case for myth's enduring power to awe, inspire, and entertain. Each chapter focuses on a particular country or cultural group. He has included Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, India, China, Japan, sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, the Pacific Islands, the Celts, and the Norse. A list of questions to pique readers' interest, such as Was there really a Trojan war? introduces each chapter. A time line featuring important dates in political, military, religious, and cultural history is accompanied by detailed descriptions of all the major gods. The introductory questions are answered, creation myths are discussed, and fascinating parallels in stories of the destruction of the world by floods are explored. Some of the greatest adventure stories of lesser-known heroes such as Gilgamesh, Finn MacCool, and Sigurd are highlighted. To give readers a taste of the original stories, excerpts of the tales and holy books are included. Using data from recent archaeological finds, Davis shows how our understanding of the past continues to change. Students will find this book useful both as a quick reference source and as a means of gaining greater understanding of complex ancient religions, or learning which events were shaping different countries at the same time.-Kathy Tewell, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Harper
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 006019460X
• ISBN 13: 9780060194604
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 560