Mythology in Minutes (Book)

Myths in Minutes, written by Neil Philip, is a volume in the “In Minutes” series. The book explores myths, defined as humanity’s journey to understand its relationship with society and the universe. Presented under the subtitle The 200 Most Famous Myths, Legends, and Fables of the World, the work aims to offer a comparative reading through the 200 most widely known mythological stories of the world, accompanied by illustrations.

The book’s subject is myths told across the globe since the beginning of time. These myths are described as narrating the creation of the world, humanity, and animals; the gods and heroes; natural forces; and supernatural beings. The book encompasses a wide range of stories, from Prometheus defying Zeus to create humankind, to the destruction of Troy; from the reign of Ra, the Egyptian sun god, to Odin, the one-eyed, raven-winged deity; from Cybele, the Anatolian goddess of fertility, to quests for the Golden Fleece and the Holy Grail.

The themes explored in the book include myths from a vast geographical span, extending from Ancient Greece to the Celts, from the Americas to Africa. The work focuses on legends in which timeless themes such as creation and destruction, being and transformation, fate and cunning, heroism and tyranny, desire and war have endured into the present day.

The book is structured as a collection of the world’s 200 most famous mythological stories. Each legend is presented with an iconic image, accompanied by commentary on the origins, shared themes, and meanings of the myths.