You are holding in your hands one of Joseph Campbell's best books. In it, the author reveals the secrets of the influence of myths on modern life, for example, how the relationship between spouses in a modern marriage depends on the myth of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and how this is embodied in the work of John Lennon. You'll discover how symbols from ancient stories continue to influence our modern understanding of the mysteries of birth, death, love and war. Campbell draws parallels between the stories of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome, the traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, exploring a wide range of themes that, taken together, define the universality of human experience across time and culture. This book, combining the energy of myths, itself became a cultural phenomenon that has a profound impact on our lives. Joseph Campbell - an outstanding scientist, writer and teacher - had a huge influence on millions of people, including the creator of Star Wars George Lucas .