Great Mythologies of the World

By: The Great Courses, Grant L. Voth, Julius H. Bailey, Kathryn McClymond, Robert André LaFleur

Narrated by: Grant L. Voth, Julius H. Bailey, Kathryn McClymond, Robert André LaFleur

Length: 31 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

The deep-seated origins and wide-reaching lessons of ancient myths built the foundation for our modern legacies. Explore the mythologies of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Learn what makes these stories so important, distinctive, and able to withstand the test of time. Discover how, despite geographical implausibilities, many myths from across the oceans share themes, morals, and archetypes.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2015 The Great Courses (P)2015 The Teaching Company, LLC

was good until they got to the African mythology

the first lecturer was phenomenal. She really captured Spirit of the various World mythologies, from India to Greece to Egypt, and Beyond. However, the second lecturer who specialized only in African mythology made a lot of unsubstantiated claims the beginning, in order to validate African mythology and set it on equal par with other mythologies. As politically incorrect as it sounds, his claims have absolutely no basis in any foundation. He at first says that African oral tradition was carefully preserved, but never written down, because they were illiterate. Then he adds later on, that didn't Tales would have been modified depending on the culture and what was going on. So were they preserved exactly? Or were they just modified, over time and as meets demanded? These Tales are obviously rip-offs of the other major world religions and, frankly, rather dull and childlike.

A Fantastic Survey of World Mythology

Provides engaging insights into cultures from all over the world. As someone who teaches a similar course (and even some of these particular myths), this course added depth to my understanding of the various cultures highlighted in these lectures and will improve my own teaching. While some reviews commented on the professor of African mythology, I found all of the professors to be informative and interesting. If you are interested in the topic, this is a course you should take.

All very good but one area.

I enjoyed this refresher into world mythology. I was eager to learn about Asia and Africa, since I have very little background in those areas. I was disappointed in the telling of the African mythology. I did not care for the narrator's slurred speech or very limited information. perhaps there is not much info, however, I believe there probably is and it could be delivered in a more interesting and thoughtful way. I did listen to every lecture, many more than once. I do recommend this to anyone just starting out or like myself wanting to revisit a very interesting topic.

Worth the time

The African myths were hard to follow and didn't focus enough on the stories themselves. I really liked the other sections.

Interesting

a very well spoke educational and intellectual lecture. Very eye opening to hear about different cultures of the world.

You'll be able to tell a Myth from a Ms.

OK so it's mythology... not much hard data to compare just the collection of remembered stories from the humans we used to be before we had to bring bags to the grocery store waiting for the earth to cool.
These are the stories that gave man the courage to find new places and conquer the elements. Very nicely done, Great choice of lecturers and subjects... Read this one.

Beyond Mythical

This was so much more than I thought it would be. I learned a lot about myself and our world! I learned that there is more than just Greek myth and they were all very interesting and very entertaining.

Absolutely wonderful

The other reviews are spot on. You won't regret this purchase, especially if you have any personal bent to learn more about world mythology. Each professor really needs their own 40+ hour book, but they do a good job with the time allotted. The African mythos speaker is also very good, he just doesn't have the presence that the others do so it feels like a slump.

Narrative = Reality in other words/symbols

It was one of the most engrossing collection of narratives I've ever listened to through my ears or in my own mind from reading the tales mankind has passed along. In this moment of contemplation having come to the end of this presentation the thought strikes me, 'will there come a time when our science is seen as a mythology and quantum a product of the trickster?'

Very entertaining and incredibly informative!!

First and foremost, this was a very outstanding collection of well informed and put together lectures. I was wary at first due to some of the reviews I read. Once I got into it all worries were gone.

I knew I would enjoy the Greek mythologies lecture because that was where my main interests were and the biggest reason I bought the book. Based on the reviews, I wasn't expecting to appreciate the African lectures much but surprisingly they were one of my favorite. The bigger surprise was the Asian mythologies. I thought I would absolutely love that series but I, for whatever reason, just couldn't get into it. Personal preference, I'm sure. That is no commentary on the lectures themselves or the narration of them. The American mythologies were another series I wasn't sure about but was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed them.

Overall, a very well presented series of lectures given by knowledgeable speakers that are easy to follow and understand.