Heroes, gods, and mortals. The Greek myths are the founding narratives of Wester
n civilization: to understand them is to know the origins of philosophy, literat
ure, art, science, law, and more. Indeed, as Luc Ferry shows in this masterful b
ook, they remain a great store of wisdom, as relevant to our lives today as ever
before.
No mere legends or cliches ("Herculean task," "Pandora's box," "Achi
lles heel," etc.), these classic stories offer profound and manifold lessons, pr
oviding the first sustained attempt to answer fundamental human questions concer
ning "the good life," the burden of mortality, and how to find one's place in th
e world. Vividly retelling the great tales of mythology and illuminating fresh n
ew ways of understanding them, The Wisdom of the Myths will enlighten readers of
all ages.
