Description

Mythology is not about the past. The past is what's behind us and that's not where mythology really exists. The big daddy of mythology hails from ancient Greece-and whether we realize it or not, Greek mythology influences the western world of today. If you have ever seen the Atlantic Ocean, if you love the wonders of stargazing, if you've dreamed of being in the Olympics, or made reference to Pandora's Box-then you have been influenced by Greek mythology. The Greeks were not a boring bunch, and their mythology was no different! Greek Mythology: Timeless Tales from the Ancients is a smart, fun, compulsively readable overview of the Greek's favorite characters and tales. These myths are filled with sex, violence, drama, lies, monsters, hubris, journeys, and just about anything else you can think of! This modern guide to favorite Greek myths includes: Overviews of legendary Greek mythology figures and their Roman counterpartsThematic, rousingly written overviews of the 50 most popular Greek myths such as "The Birth of Athena" to "Perseus and Medusa"A complete index of gods and goddesses, heroes and humans told through lively, easy-to-understand narratives Part reference and all rousing read, Greek Mythology: Timeless Tales from the Ancients brings ancient Greek mythology to life and leaves the scholarly footnotes behind. Strap on your winged sandals and get ready for a journey through the ancients.

Reviews

Jason Boyett always threads a subtle ribbon of provocative thinking alongside his renowned wit. Don't let the style or pithiness fool you, this is some real deal schooling on the very roots of the stories we still carry into our popular culture, philosophy, and the night sky. I say this as someone who broke the spine of D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths from repeated childhood readings: it's marvelous. Lauren Sandler, best-selling author of One and Only and Righteous I'd love to tell you how good this book is but I can't get it away from my kids. Daniel Radosh, senior writer at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah "Greek Mythology is an excellent reference guide to the stories that gave rise to Western civilization. This introduction to classical mythology and its quirky cast of human, divine, and hybrid characters is well written and packed with fun facts. Boyett expertly takes the reader on a fascinating journey of the ancient Greek myths and shows how they remain relevant today. Robert R. Cargill, Ph.D., Asst. Professor of Classics and Religious Studies, University of Iowa"

Author description

Jason Boyett is a professional writer. He lives in Texas with his wife, teenage daughter, and son. He has written more than a dozen books, including Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse, Pocket Guide to the Bible, and Pocket Guide to the Afterlife. His journalism has appeared in Amarillo Magazine, American Cowboy, Paste, Salon, The Daily Beast, and other publications. In the sixth grade, Jason wrote and helped direct a school play that retold the story of the Iliad and Odyssey in around 45 minutes. He gave himself the lead role of Odysseus. Learn more at jasonboyett.com.