Somewhat similar to the Bill Moyers PBS special (and book) Power of Myth, this book consists of interviews between Michael Toms and Joseph Campbell. As such, we get to eavesdrop on a sparkling conversation that illuminates the role of myth in our lives. There's a lot of familiar ground to those who've read Campbell's work, but I like this book because it serves a convenient overview and provides a lot of interesting wisdom. ( )

Toms, host of the radio series "New Dimensions," interviewed Joseph Campbell a number of times over ten years. This book is compiled from transcripts of nine of these interviews. While the content is similar to Campbell and Moyers's The Power of Myth (Doubleday, 1988), Toms takes a more conversational approach than did Moyers, making the text easier for the general reader. As a result, this is a good book to recommend to younger readers who might find The Power of Myth too erudite, though unfortunately, it has no illustrations. For any library where there is demand for materials by and about Campbell. Lucy Patrick, Strozier Lib., Florida Univ., Tallahassee. Library Journal ( )