A truly wondrous achievement

A unique condensed look at a number of mythology from across the world. Can't recommend enough

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great book

loved it,i like the description of myths as a complex mixture of cultural ingredients.great book.

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Absolutely brilliant introduction to mythologies of the world

There can’t be many books that try to cover so much. It was a great way of broadening my awareness and understanding. It has sparked a number of new interests.

Book is let down a little by having no central narrative so at times feels like a slightly disjointed set of short stories. It is also true that some professors are better orators than others.

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Recommend it for anyone curious about mythology.

Loved it although it is only a introduction to world mythology it is a good jumping of point into further studies or just for someone wanting to learn about mythology beyond the Greek and Roman. A part I wished had been a bit shorter and more emphasis put on other European myths such as the Sàmi culture and their myths or more about the Celts. Another thing there is not enough about the middle and southern America myths, lumping them together in one part might have been a mistake.
But the professors are knowledgeable about their subjects and all of them great storytellers which is crucial for this type of lectures. I only wished they were longer. And because there are a few them there is bit of a repetition about what myth is and it's function, but that might not be such a bad thing.

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2 people found this helpful

great introduction to mythology

Insightful, hilarious and wonderful. Worth the money. Some of the narration could be a bit better but the content and expertise more than make up for it.

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Interesting subject, too much popular culture

What did you like most about Great Mythologies of the World?

The best part about this course is that it covers a very wide range of mythology, and if gives you the chance to see connections between all these different areas and times yourself. I also like how they don't try to push aspects of myths into standard categories, instead they give open look into myth.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?

The musical introduction part between the different chapters is very annoying, and enormously sensational. I really can't see why this is necessary, as it doesn't suit the rest of the content. Another reason why I didn't like the way in which the information is brought to you, is the connections made to popular culture. It felt childish, and as someone who doesn't really like the whole celebrity culture, I often didn't even know what they were talking about. Perhaps this is good for young children, but not for young adults and adults. Also the tone of speaking is quite childish, but perhaps I saw the great courses wrongly as meant for adults.

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4 people found this helpful

muy interesante p

me ha gustado. He aprendido muchos cuentos para contarle a mi hija y he ensanchado mi entendimiento de otras culturas.

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Great courses but sometimes you can lose yourself

Great courses but sometimes you can lose yourself in the information, it’s one of those books you’re constantly return to the lectures again and again.
Mythology fo Greece, Rome, The Norse, The Bible, Egypt, Celtic Ireland, The Middle East, The Far East, Africa and The Americas.
Very keen to understand stand and learn the historical information regarding Mythology and this course certainly broadens your horizons

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A mixed bag

The stories themselves are fascinating, the links and consistencies across cultures are amazing to hear. Having said that, some of the lecturers are definitely more adept at public speaking than others, but it would be harsh to expect one person to be able to deliver the full thing!

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Great

I love The Great Courses lectures and this was fascinating. Definitely worth a listen if you like mythology or other Great Courses lectures

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