Soul: An Archaeology--Readings from Socrates to Ray Charles

by Phil Cousineau

A captivating, multidimensional collection of writings on the soul--from creation myths to beat poetry, religion to rock-n-roll. "Inspiring, often mind-blowing, sometimes even a little scary."-- Los Angeles Times

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Anthologies

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

About the author

Phil Cousineau is the award-winning author of The Wisdom of the Odyssey and over forty other books, including the bestselling The Art of Pilgrimage, The Hero’s Journey, and Once and Future Myths. With more than 40 books and 25 scriptwriting credits to his name, the "omnipresent influence of myth in modern life" is a thread that runs through all his work.

A writer, filmmaker, storyteller, and cultural historian, Phil has consulted on mythology and story for major studios including Warner Brothers, Pixar, and Lucasfilm. A protege of mythologist Joseph Campbell, Cousineau began his career teaching screenwriting classes on Myth and the Movies at the American Film Institute in the 1980s.

He was co-writer and host of Link TV/PBS-TV's Global Spirit, the "inner travel" television series, which Bill Moyers called "more important than journalism today." His documentary films have won more than 25 international awards, including the Academy Award-nominated, Forever Activists.

Born in an army hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, Cousineau grew up in Detroit, Phil Cousineau has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years. All of his grandparents were French-Canadian.

Reviews

[Amy]

There was a point in my life a few years ago when I was really interested in what other cultures think of the soul and studies and theories on what the soul actually is. I walked into a used book store around that time, and there was this book propped on a shelf. Interesting reading, and I found it purely by accident when I needed it most.

[Dennis Berard]

So many profound stories. I haen't yet grasped everything I just completed reading. How could anyone. Too much to contemplate just yet. An awesome collection. Like a reference book.

[Jennifer]

An interesting mix of hard philosophy and easy to read musings. Very digestable, and I love to open up to a page and read whatever I land on. Good for a glass of scotch and a perusal.