What are the best books on mythology you can recommend

by Caprine-Evisc

I've considered going into anthropology when I go back to college next year because it's something I really love and as I am already working on a degree in computer sciences it'd be nice to learn about something a bit more enjoyable. I wanna get a head start on it to make up my mind on whether it's worth getting a degree in it or if it should just be a hobby. So does anyone have any great books on mythology you can recommend? I'm most interested in Greek, Roman, and Norse Mythology but I'm down for anything. Also if anyone knows of any mythology anthologies or even just good websites to read on it from hit me up!

erissays

Hi! I've given an overview of books for Norse mythology and Arthurian legend before (you can find it here), and I wrote an extensive recs list of books on fairy tales, folklore, and mythology in r/Fantasy awhile back. Most of the other recommendations on that thread are also very good, btw (though most of them are fiction recommendations rather than actual myth/tale anthologies or analysis/criticism).

In addition to the recs on those two posts, I would recommend the following (which are more on the side of analysis and criticism rather than compilations of actual texts, but also include just some straight texts):

  • Mythology, Edith Hamilton
  • Bulfinch's Mythology
  • The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell
  • Hero of a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell
  • Theogony by Hesiod, translated by M.L. West
  • Greek Religion by Walter Burkert
  • The Global Myths, Alexander Elliot
  • Greek and Roman Folklore: A Handbook, by Graham Anderson
  • The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology by Edward Tripp
  • Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney (which I mention in my first link, but thought deserved a separate mention)

And for fairy tales, should you be interested, some additions to the second link:

  • 1001 Arabian Nights
  • Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales, Jack Zipes
  • Why Fairy Tales Stick: The Evolution and Relevance of a Genre, Jack Zipes
  • The Golden Ages of Folk and Fairy Tales: From the Brothers Grimm to Andrew Lang, Jack Zipes
  • Off with Their Heads! Fairy Tales and the Culture of Childhood, Maria Tatar
  • The Hard Facts of Grimms' Fairy Tales, Maria Tatar

As for websites and academic journals, I recommend SurlaLune and the University of Pittsburgh for fairy tales, folktales, and some mythological stories. Additionally, the following academic journals might be of interest to you:

  • Marvels and Tales
  • Folklore
  • The Journal of American Folklore
  • Sociology of Religion
  • Journal of Popular Culture
  • Cultural Studies
  • Journal of Folklore Research

You can find longer and more comprehensive lists of academic journals catering towards fairy tales, folklore, and mythology here, here, and here. Hopefully, this should provide more than enough information to get you started, but if you look through both lists+the additional sources I've provided here and are still looking for something in particular, I'd be happy to see if I can help.

mididracra

I am currently reading "the classic bestseller mythology, timeless tales of Gods and Heros" by Edith Hamilton. I barely started (one fifth of the book actually) but i think it is a pretty good start or reminder of the different figures of the Greek/Latin mythology. It contains some great stories and give you good context.