The Hero with a Thousand FacesThe Hero with a Thousand Faces
Score Classic
What it's about
Joseph Campbell combined the insights of modern psychology with the myths of the world to describe the monomyth, the hero's journey that appears in stories across cultures: the call to adventure, trials, transformation and return. He argues that these patterns still matter to our lives today.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books. It famously influenced George Lucas and countless storytellers.
You'll love it if you liked
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold
Norse Mythology
MeditationsGood to know
It's dense and academic in places. Writers and fans of myth find it endlessly useful.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller26 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #74 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #383 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1304 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Small Gods
Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love
Servant of the Bones
The Lord of the Rings
HyperionExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Science and ideas booksTop 25 · 119 ranked
Classic booksTop 25 · 762 ranked
Books of the 1940sTop 25 · 50 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedQuick answers
Is The Hero with a Thousand Faces worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books. It ranks #1,304 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Hero with a Thousand Faces about?
Joseph Campbell combined the insights of modern psychology with the myths of the world to describe the monomyth, the hero's journey that appears in stories across cultures: the call to adventure, trials, transformation and return. He argues that these patterns still matter to our lives today.
How long does it take to read The Hero with a Thousand Faces?
About 10 hours (418 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Hero with a Thousand Faces?
If you liked it, try Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry, Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman or Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.