Well researched, well thought out, well written. From Gilgamesh to Norman Mailer, I’ve enjoyed many of the adventure literature examined in this book, only now I know why. Zweig reaffirms, adventure is the spice of life, but you don’t need to battle beasts or travel into nine colored lands to achieve them. And although spoils may follow, the prize is the adventure itself.
This little book takes you on a journey through the literary (and thereby cultural and symbolic) history of the Adventurer/Hero archetype. It’s full of rich insights into how the hero emerged through storytelling and myth, how literature has shaped our cultural concepts of adventure, and how these symbols collide with our modern sedentary world of reason.
Highly recommended this neat little book that’s flown under the radar.