Don't Know Much About® Mythology
Everything You Need to Know About the Greatest Stories in Human History but Never Learned
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- USD 9.99
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- USD 9.99
Descripción editorial
Where do we come from? Why do stars shine and the seasons change? What is evil? Since the beginning of time, people have answered these and other questions with stories, which in turn have been passed down through the ages. In Don’t Know Much About® Mythology, Kenneth Davis introduces and explains the great myths of the world, as well as the works of literature that have made them famous. Readers will learn about Mesopotamia’s Gilgamesh; 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.
Using his popular question and answer format, Davis demonstrates the ways in which the gods and heroes of yesterday continue to speak to us in modern movies, art, language, music, and religions. From Mount Olympus to Machu Picchu, from ancient Rome to the icy land of the Norse, here is an insightful and lively look at the greatest stories ever told.
Kenneth C. Davis speaks often on national television and radio. His USA Weekend column is seen weekly by millions of readers. In addition to his adult titles, he writes the Don’t Know Much About® Kids series published by HarperCollins. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.
“Ken Davis is the high school teacher we all wish we’d had — smart, funny, and irreverent.” — Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
What is a myth? How does it differ from legend, fairy tale and allegory? Do myths cross cultures? Davis (Don't Know Much About the Civil War) answers these and many other questions with his characteristic humor and charming storytelling. He examines the myths created by societies ranging from Egypt, Greece and Rome to Africa, India and the Americas, proceeding, as in his other books, by way of question and answer as he surveys each mythmaking culture. A who's who for each culture is also helpful. He shows the connections between myths of various cultures, such as the flood story of Noah in Genesis and that of the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilsh. Among the questions and answers, Davis intersperses "mythic voices" from characters in the stories so readers can virtually hear the heroes of bygone eras. 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.
