Product Details
An Open Life: Joseph Campbell in conversation with Michael Toms

An Open Life: Joseph Campbell in conversation with Michael Toms
By Michael Toms

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(9 customer reviews)

Product Description

In the tradition of The Power of Myth, a conversation with Joseph Campbell that distills the mature wisdom and eclectic spiritual thinking of the world-renowned scholar and mythologist.


Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #362599 in Books
  • Published on: 1990-05-23
  • Released on: 1990-05-23
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 8.00" h x .32" w x 5.31" l, .23 pounds
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 144 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Toms, host of the radio series "New Dimensions," interviewed Joseph Campbell a number of times over ten years. This book is compiled from transcripts of nine of these interviews. While the content is similar to Campbell and Moyers's The Power of Myth (Doubleday, 1988), Toms takes a more conversational approach than did Moyers, making the text easier for the general reader. As a result, this is a good book to recommend to younger readers who might find The Power of Myth too erudite, though unfortunately, it has no illustrations. For any library where there is demand for materials by and about Campbell. Lucy Patrick, Strozier Lib., Florida Univ., Tallahassee
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
5Warm and accessible
By Anita Spinella
Michael Toms in his introduction to this book states that Campbell "possessed the rare gift of distilling wisdom from a bottomless well of information and knowledge". I would agree and add further that it was also Michael Tom's own high level of knowledge and (more importantly) his warm and genial personality that make this series of interviews more like a fireside dialogue.

Campbell was (and still is) considered one of the greatest scholars of mythology possessing a blazing and intuitive mind. That he was able to communicate his specialist knowledge with an attitude of joy and fun is remarkable. These conversations are also available via audio file, where Campbell's Homeric laugh is a tonic, and Tom's gentle tones are a pleasure. Making fertile work of such topics as literature, philosophy, politics, religion, love, and the great angst of humanity - the meaning of life - this book never preaches, is devoid of dogma and is a pure joy to read.

I recommend it to anyone.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
5Joseph's Own Words--So RELEVANT And Helpful Today!
By Phil Davidson
I love to listen to Joseph Campbell, and this book is the next best thing to that. The questions are insighful, and of course Joseph is as relevant today as when he was interviewed. This book includes conversations over many sittings and a great many interesting topics.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
4Joseph Campbell and spiritual development
By Closet Poet
Michael Toms' conversation with Joseph Campbell holds up well and provides a wide-ranging exploration of Campbell's evolving views on spirituality and development. Campbell was truly a remarkable and extraordinary human being who followed his bliss all his life and was willing to share his insights.
This title is a classic for anyone who has any interest in Joseph Campbell's work.

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