The Rebirth of the Hero: Mythology as a Guide to Spiritual Transformation (Muswell Hill Press) Paperback – March 14, 2013

This is, by far, the best synthesis of The Hero's Journey, i.e. the individuation journey, I have ever read. The author has a kind of pure god-given genius for being able to take all this enormous material, from Jung, to Nietsche, to Star Wars, to myth in general, to Joseph Campbell, to Eastern and Western approaches, to dreams, to the Goddess, and somehow weave it into a beautiful narrative that does not veer off into abstraction or mire one in a tar pit of academic jargon. It is at once accessible and yet, very deep. He also manages to include parts of his own journey without it becoming tediously autobiographical.Even for those of us who know this material well, Le Grice manages to remind us in a new way of the depth, breadth and importance of the journey, both personally and collectively. In that sense, it is truly enlightening. And perhaps most importantly of all, it brings hope without sacrificing truth. Hope for us individually, and hope for humanity.As a woman, the book holds a particular and special significance. This is the first time I've felt comfortable stepping up and claiming The Hero Myth for myself. Although privately I always felt a certain kinship and understanding, I was never comfortable claiming it for myself before because of the gendered language around it. That discomfort fell away for me largely because of the author's unique ability to acknowledge and then move beyond the gender stereotypes and open wide the door. He consistently reminds the reader that this is the individuation journey, for men and women alike. He doesn't patronize, either with content or with language. So while the book is terribly important for the masculine, from my perspective, it also provides an invitation, a doorway and a mythological foundation for women as we go on our individuation journeys. That's quite tricky to do. Even Joseph Campbell could not do it, because being necessarily a man of his time, he believed the journey was exclusively a male one. If I have one piece of feedback, it would be simply that I wish the chapter "A Note on Gender" could have been the preface. On the other hand, not many of us read prefaces so perhaps it's best left where it is.Finally, a note on the writing. Good writing matters, particularly in more scholarly treatments of a well-known subject. It really does. Le Grice does not disappoint. His capacity for synthesis is matched by his capacity with language -- lyrical yet concise, wholehearted yet never flamboyant. It is rare these days when a scholarly book is upheld as much by the language as the content, and that is the case here. In many places, the book reads like a great novel and was hard to put down, even for me, who knows the story well! In fact, a small confession: I have copied the last few pages, beginning with Hospitality to the Gods, and have the pages taped to the wall above my desk. There is such integration and hope there, as well as important reminders, summed up beautifully in these lines: "As individuation proceeds, however, your individual freedom, in one form, has to be given up. Your freedom, thereafter, depends on how you respond to the creative impulses emerging from your depths, which do not originate from your own conscious volition. … Individuation is the process by which you become reconciled to this loss of freedom."

LeGrice's book is a helpful guide for those that find themselves - bidden or unbidden - on a journey away from the materialistic as well as nihilistic worldview so prevalent in post-modernity toward realization of the Self and to the greater consciousness, psychological wholeness, and spiritual insight that it entails. He draws on the work of many trailblazers whose work is often difficult but essential to the task of the Hero and renders them accessible to those who might not otherwise be able to make use of them. He writes from a point of view of an experienced traveler and not that of a dry academic and yet his scholarship is readily apparent. So when you, if you are so blessed (or cursed!), have the realization that the Hero is not something external to you but rather inward journey through your own Psyche then I believe that you will find this work a worthy companion for your journey.

I really enjoyed this book. It brings together phiolosphy, religion and science into thinking about myth and it's role in life today. It makes it apparent that we are missing out by not having good myths in our lives today. It is a bit of a tough read at first, but well worth sticking out to the end.

Another fabulous book by this author. This book should be studied in all high schools so youth could be exposed to some deep knowledge and wisdom not currently included in schools' curricula, alas!

Well organized, clearly written, did not assume prior knowledge, and connected myth and our world today. I am using it as a text in my group sessions and lectures.

Very happy, thank you.

Really a fantastic perspective on psyche.

Having read Keiron's two previous books, the first thing I can say is that this one is as valuable as "The archetypal cosmos" and "Eris".Keiron weaves together an amazing amount of knowledge - C. G Jung, Nietzsche, Campbell, Tarnas, and many others - and his own amazing insight, to present us with a view of our collective human adventure, on the one hand, and tools to progress on our own personal spiritual path, that is truly highly inspiring.MEANING : that's what this book will bring you, first. A unique understanding of things.And much more : "hope", for instance, because in spite of the difficult times we are going through as a species, KLG shows where all of this might be leading to.We seriously NEED that kind of overview, that kind of understanding of our predicament, to be able to go on with our lives in a meaningful way.So, thanks Keiron, for this new book of yours !

Excellent scholarly treatise that is a rich source of literary and cinematic insight into the heroic journey of human existence. A demanding read but one that serves as an essential guidebook and reference point for exploring the psychology of the spiritual journey.

Fantastic book for anyone curious about Mythology, the Cosmos and Archetypal Astrology.

pour ceux qui lisent l'anglais, Keiron Le Grice nous offre ici une fois de plus un livre exceptionnel, sur le mythe du héros. Puisse-t-il être un jour traduit en français...Once again a great book by KLG. Like his formers ones, this title shows his vast knowledge, his clear thinking, his depth understanding of human psychology. I've read it 2 or 3 times already, and will continue to find inspiration in it.