Once and Future Myths: The Power of Ancient Stories in Our Lives

Summary

In this masterwork, Phil Cousineau examines the connection of mythology to contemporary life and what that means for self-improvement. Drawing on his extensive work with Joseph Campbell (The Power of Myth), this is Cousineau's grand opus—revealing mythic insights for everyday life. Cousineau retells classic myths such as Eros and Psyche—with new accounts of more contemporary mythmakers such as Jim Morrison and Vincent van Gogh, illustrating how these legends have affected history, culture, and individuals. Experiencing myth feels like a sense of timelessness—living something larger than oneself—with a deeper understanding of work, love, creativity, and spirituality. This timelessness is evident in Cousineau's discussions of the mythology of travel, mentors, cities, baseball, and vampires. Once and Future Myths is a fascinating listen and an original contribution to what we know about the power of myth in the 21st century.