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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Narrated by:
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John Lee
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Lorna Raver
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By:
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Kenneth C. Davis
About this listen
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.
©2005 Kenneth C. Davis (P)2005 Random House, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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- A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt
- By: Geraldine Pinch
- Narrated by: TJ Johnson
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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From stories of resurrected mummies and thousand-year-old curses to powerful pharaohs and the coveted treasures of the Great Pyramids, ancient Egypt has had an unfaltering grip on the modern imagination. Now, in Egyptian Mythology, Geraldine Pinch offers a comprehensive introduction that untangles the mystery of Egyptian myth.
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does not tell mythology
- By Carlos on 07-12-21
By: Geraldine Pinch
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Introducing the Ancient Greeks
- From Bronze Age Seafarers to Navigators of the Western Mind
- By: Edith Hall
- Narrated by: Sian Thomas
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Acclaimed classics scholar Edith Hall's Introducing the Ancient Greeks is the first book to offer a synthesis of the entire ancient Greek experience, from the rise of the Mycenaean kingdoms of the sixteenth century BC to the final victory of Christianity over paganism in AD 391. Each of the ten chapters visits a different Greek community at a different moment during the twenty centuries of ancient Greek history.
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Surveying the Greeks
- By Jolene on 05-31-18
By: Edith Hall
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Primitive Mythology
- The Masks of God Series, Volume I
- By: Joseph Campbell, David Kudler - editor
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 19 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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The author of such acclaimed books as The Hero With a Thousand Faces and The Power of Myth discusses the primitive roots of mythology, examining them in light of the most recent discoveries in archaeology, anthropology, and psychology.
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Epic speculation into the origins of our mythic consciousness
- By BGZ on 01-10-19
By: Joseph Campbell, and others
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Mythology: Folklore, Myths & Legends: The History of Gods, Men and the Mythologies of the World
- By: Michael J. Stewart
- Narrated by: William Bahl
- Length: 1 hr and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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When is a story more than just a story? When does it become a myth? When it holds a piece of truth about our history, our morality, and the cosmos. Throughout history, humankind has used stories to explain the unknown. From the cycle of the moon to the changing of the seasons, tales about supernatural beings and events have served to account for the purpose of the cosmos. But mythology isn’t entirely fiction. These stories have been passed down for generations for a reason.
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Very useful
- By Angela on 02-10-21
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A Brief History of the Celts
- Brief Histories
- By: Peter Berresford Ellis
- Narrated by: Christopher Oxford
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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For centuries the Celts held sway in Europe. Even after their conquest by the Romans, their culture remained vigorous, ensuring that much of it endured to feed an endless fascination with Celtic history and myths, artwork and treasures. A foremost authority on the Celtic peoples and their culture, Peter Berresford Ellis presents an invigoration overview of their world. With his gift for making the scholarly accessible, he discusses the Celts' mysterious origins and early history and investigates their rich and complex society.
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A bit dry, but overall interesting
- By Lokkish on 04-13-15
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Mythology
- Gods, Goddesses, and Legends from Around the World
- By: Kelly Mass
- Narrated by: Kaan Akyol
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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This 2-in1 bundle covers various mythologies from around the world - From ancient Japanese myths and Germanic mythology, to the beliefs held sacred by the Aztecs, the Mayans, and the Polynesians civilizations.
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Nice
- By Ruth on 04-15-20
By: Kelly Mass
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The Popol Vuh
- The History and Legacy of the Maya's Creation Myth and Epic Legends
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Bill Hare
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century. The Greeks and Romans continue to fascinate the West today. But of all the world's civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people. In 2012 especially, there was a renewed focus on the Mayans, whose advanced calendar led many to speculate the world would end on the same date the Mayan calendar ends.
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This isn't the actual Popol Vuh!
- By Dana on 02-27-19
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Quetzalcoatl
- The History and Legacy of the Feathered Serpent God in Mesoamerican Mythology
- By: Charles River Editors, Ernesto Novato
- Narrated by: Bill Hare
- Length: 1 hr and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Worship of the Feathered Serpent can be traced back 2,000 years, and the Serpent’s cults appear all across Mesoamerica. The Olmec, the Aztec, and both the Yucatec and K’iche Mayans all had different names for this deity, including Kukulkan, Q’uq’umatz, and Tohil...Quetzalcoatl was and remains one of the most interesting and enlightening stories ever to have come out of any civilization, and his stories offer a better understanding of the Mesoamerican world.
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great, clear, and comprehendible.
- By Leah Berry on 08-31-22
By: Charles River Editors, and others
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Mythology
- A Captivating Guide to Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, and Norse Mythology
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Discover captivating beliefs of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Vikings in this book on mythology that contains three manuscripts. The first manuscript in this bundle is the best-seller called Greek Mythology: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters.
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Where did the time Go?
- By Kenyon Martin on 04-17-18
By: Matt Clayton
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The Parthenon Enigma
- By: Joan Breton Connelly
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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In this revolutionary book, Joan Breton Connelly challenges our most basic assumptions about the Parthenon and the ancient Athenians. Beginning with the natural environment and its rich mythic associations, she re-creates the development of the Acropolis - the Sacred Rock at the heart of the city-state - from its prehistoric origins to its Periklean glory days as a constellation of temples among which the Parthenon stood supreme.
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dope book, lacked depth but overall worthwhile
- By Nicholas on 06-29-15
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Uncovering Greek Mythology: A Beginner's Guide into the World of Greek Gods and Goddesses
- By: Lucas Russo
- Narrated by: Jared Zak
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Get to know the Greek gods and goddesses, from the mighty Zeus, to the temperamental Poseidon, the beautiful Aphrodite, and every character from A to Z. Who wouldn’t want to hear about Zeus and his command of lightning, Hades and how he found his bride, the wisdom of Athena, and so many other stories that capture the imagination. These stories can do more than just entertain; they can also inspire and teach us lessons that were penned by the Greeks themselves.
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Wonderful book!!
- By Laura Preston on 12-07-22
By: Lucas Russo
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Our Oriental Heritage
- The Story of Civilization, Volume 1
- By: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Robin Field
- Length: 50 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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The first volume of Will Durant's Pulitzer Prize-winning series, Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume I chronicles the early history of Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia.
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Wonderful
- By Michael on 11-30-13
By: Will Durant
What listeners say about Don't Know Much About Mythology
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Barry J. Marshall
- 01-31-08
Long and not what I expected
I thought this book would be full of stories about the greek mythology etc. It did not really seem to hit the mark although did go into some depth talking about all the various gods in different civilizations. So it was very long (three audiofiles) and not fantastically interesting. I am generous giving it a 3 I think. Maybe I will listen to it again as I can't really remember very many details of it!
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5 people found this helpful
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- G. D. P.
- 09-29-19
Encyclopedic Treatment of the World's Mythology
I listened to Don't Know Much about Mythology because I had listened to Mr. Davis' Don't Know Much About the Bible and thought the former was fascinating. This book on mythology was a bit like listening to an encyclopedia. It recounts myths and the historical background for each of numerous cultures (Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian, American Indian, etc., etc.) around the globe. The first 5 or 6 chapters were mostly historical in nature and seemed to drag on. I almost gave up. But the rest of the book was very interesting.
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- Mutasim
- 03-16-17
recommended
if you enjoy history or just learning about mythology. this is an incredible listen. book is well read.
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- roger
- 04-08-18
good read
it gives a good overview of a very large topic. I live the simplistic language and style.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Douglas
- 06-07-16
Good Introduction; Worth Reading
I have always enjoyed Davis' "Don't Know Much About Books." I realize they are designed to be overviews/introductions but I feel like they are occasionally much more in depth than you might expect.
This wasn't my favorite Davis book, but that's not totally fair to the review because it was partially due to the reader not paying attention to what he was selecting. For some reason I was thinking that this was going to be--more or less--don't know much about Greek/Roman mythology. I've been studying Ancient Rome/the Roman Empire recently and was thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea to read a Davis book about the gods and myths.
Not that it had to be all Greek/Roman; essentially I was hoping that this book would give me an overview of the most well known gods and myths. In some ways this book does do that. The sections on Greek/Roman and Norse gods and myths are extensive. But this is an overview of the mythology of many, many different cultures. While I found all of those reviews to be interesting, it wasn't really what I was looking for.
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Overall
- Robvann
- 01-18-06
Enlightening
I was really looking for a book on GREEK mythology, but this was very enlightening as it expanded the Mythology of the WHOLE WORLD. Egyption, Native Indian, you name it.
Very enlightening.
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16 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Heather
- 03-06-06
learned a lot
I really liked this and have been recomending to all my friends. I learned so much about the history of so many cultures and their myths there were areas I wish had been covered a bit beter but all in all a great overview
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Kindle Customer
- 09-18-06
Superb
I could listen to John Lee read the phone book! Of course listening to him read this Superbly well done material is much more instructive.
The use of BCE, btw, has become more common and while it may be more "PC", I, for one, prefer it to BC.
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Chandler
- 01-25-06
preachy
The book starts out great - not what I expected. It gives a history of the region (Greece, Rome, Africa, Americas, etc.) then gives some of the more popular beliefs and myths. Well done. But, wow - does he get on a soap box concerning the Americas. It really gets old and soures an otherwise good listen.
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Laura Flynn
- 11-30-08
This book is OK
I really enjoyed "Don't Know Much About History," so I thought I would go through the series, but this book was not as good. I did not enjoy the reader. I found his accent distracting and lacking in emotion.
The first half of the book seemed pretty good. I followed the structure and could understand the links (maybe because I more familiar with the material). The second half seemed muddled. I found myself not wanting to turn on my MP3 player because I new what was waiting for me.
If you really like myths, this might be a good book, but if you only have a passing interest, I might try something else.
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8 people found this helpful