Asian Journals

India and Japan (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)

By: Joseph Campbell

Narrated by: Fred Stella

At the beginning of his career, Joseph Campbell developed a lasting fascination with the cultures of the Far East, and explorations of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy later became recurring motifs in his vast body of work. However, Campbell had to wait until middle age to visit the lands that inspired him so deeply. In 1954, he took a sabbatical from his teaching position and embarked on a year-long voyage through India, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and finally Japan. Asian Journals combines the two hardcover editions of Campbell’s journals, Baksheesh & Brahman and Sake & Satori, into one volume, an edited day-to-day travel diary of the people he met and the historical places he visited on his trek through Asia. Along the way, he enlivens the narrative with his musings on culture, religion, myth, and politics, describing both the trivial and the sublime. As always, Campbell’s keen intellect and boundless curiosity shine through in his lucid prose. Campbell enthusiasts will come away with a deeper understanding of the man, his work, and his enduring legacy.

©2002 Joseph Campbell Foundation (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made for the permission to reprint from The Art of Indian Asia: Its Mythology and Transformations and Philosophies of India by Heinrich Zimmer, edited and completed by Joseph Campbell. © 1955, 1960 by Princeton University Press. Used by permission of Princeton University Press.

One of a kind masterpiece

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read or listened to. I wish it would never end!

surprised

can understand that some could be bored by details of travel but I enjoyed the rest it gave my mind at intervals because he hits on some heavy stuff...he lived long enough to observe the massive global cultural and technological innovations which transformed the way life and political systems of the ORIENT. He helped birth where we are now. a Keen Observer and dedicated educator

A lifetime of study

This particular Joseph Campbell book could be used for a lifetime of study.

Outstanding look inside an exceptional mind…..

What a journey!

Almost 27 hours of listening just passed by. A journey through a year in Joseph Campbells life when he is 50 years old and taking a year off from his normal job as a teacher and instead exploaring the Oriental world with his unique bagage of wisdom, curiousity and humility. Its very entertaining, very enjoyable and educational. The world in 1954 and 1955, the year when this book takes place, is of course very much different world from today. With this book its very much like jumping into that swarm of cultures and people like an authentic time machine that you will love if you have any likes or experiences of the oriental world yourself.

The narrator is brilliant too!

Not what I expected

I was unable to finish this book. After hours of listening to it I can say the beginning of this book is more about learning about Mr. Campbell than hearing from Mr. Campbell himself. I skipped ahead and even where the book was written by Mr. Campbell I did not find it as focused as other works by him but that is to be expected in a more casual format such as a personal journal. The book is intelligent and we'll written just not what I wanted to read

Profound

Campbell's writings are a window to the past that is vivid and interesting . His writings also show no matter how we advance technologically , humans nature, culture and tradition have kept us from advancing as a species. This journal could have been written last year or seventy years ago. Still relevant.

WONDERFUL BOOK

It is a long, overall interesting book. It is fast moving. The narrator, Fred Stella, is excellent.
The book will be more interesting if you are familiar with Hinduism and Buddhism, also if you have studied the history
of India and Japan.

This is the first time I ever listened to Joseph Campbell and it will not be the last. Audible has several books to choose from.
YouTube has many, very interesting lectures by mr. Campbell, certainly worth looking into.
Locations mentioned, can also be checked on Google Earth.
Overall I highly recommend listening.
As always, my thanks to all involved, JK.