Book description
As long as we have been human, we have been mythmakers. In A Short History of Myth, Karen Armstrong holds up the mirror of mythology to show us the history of ourselves, and embarks on a journey that begins at a Neanderthal graveside and ends buried in the heart of…
Why read it?
2 authors picked A Short History of Myth as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This is a short, easy-to-digest book, but what a genius book it is! While the other books are specifically about Greek myths, Armstrong deals with the question of myth across all cultures.
Her definition of a myth is one of the profoundest I have come across, and I regularly quote it: “A myth, it will be recalled, is an event that–in some sense–happened once, but which also happens all the time.” Hence why we can talk about the Oedipus complex and such-like: for they happen all the time.
From James' list on understand and enjoy Greek myths.
I remember reading this slim volume for the first time and being amazed by its clarity. For elegance and power of explanation, it is impossible to beat. For me, it was the bridge between my understanding of the individual human mind and minds in societies and in culture—especially ancient and prehistoric societies. I have always been fascinated by the evolution of the mind, and books that dare to deal with that topic are rare indeed. This one stunned me with its sophisticated descriptions of the types of myth we use throughout our lives, a sophistication matched with clarity of vision…
From Stephen's list on that explain the mystery of consciousness.
If you love A Short History of Myth...
When Jesus Became God
Was Jesus of Nazareth a remarkably holy man and a prophet, or was he God in human form? This question tore the early Christian community apart in the fourth century CE, generating 60 years of violent conflict and raising questions that still concern millions of people worldwide.
"A splendidly dramatic…
Want books like A Short History of Myth?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like A Short History of Myth.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,343
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like A Short History of Myth, you might also like...
Aristotle's Children
The rediscovery of Aristotle's works by Christians in the libraries of Muslim Spain set off an intellectual and moral revolution in the Roman Catholic Church that, in many ways, launched the modern era. Rubenstein's book tells how a remarkable series of characters, including Peter Abelard, Thomas Aquinas, and William of…
The Lamb Alone is Worthy
This is not that Revelation: No fanciful and violent future predictions. No seven years of death and destruction coming on the earth. This book is the real deal.
Revelation, written to seven churches in the First Century Roman Empire, is a masterful dramatic presentation of the struggle between truth and…
