The best mythology books for adults capture the world’s myths in all their glory. Mythology books created for an adult audience don’t shield readers from the truth of the myths. If you’re a mythology geek and are looking for the best books about mythology, you’ve come to the right place. In this list of the 25 best mythology books for adults, you’ll find tales from around the globe, from Greek and Roman mythology, of course, but also Native and Indigenous myths, Hindu myths, and Japanese myths. You’ll also find works of comparative mythology and mythology theory. You will come away with your To Be Read list blown up with great mythology books and discover the myths of less represented cultures. And now onto the books!
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American Indian Myths and Legends by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
The mythos of American Indigenous people is collected in this book of American Indian myths and legends. Edited by anthropologist Richard Erdoes and artist and storyteller Alfonso Ortiz, this compendium of the mythology and legends of Native Americans contains 160 tales from 80 tribes.
How to read it: Purchase American Indian Myths and Legends on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
An Illustrated Kalevala by Kirsti Mäkinen
The Kalevala is a nineteenth century epic poem written by Elias Lönnrot collecting Karelian and Finnish mythology and oral folktales. In this handsomely illustrated edition, retold anew by Kirsti Mäkinen, you’ll see the whole thing in gorgeous artwork from Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin. If you want to read The Kalevala (and it’s included further down in this list) but want to experience it with its full visual effect, check out this book.
How to read it: Purchase An Illustrated Kalevala on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths by Helen Morales
When you think of Classical mythology, the last thing you think of is their subversiveness. But while we might envision stuffy old tales, Helen Morales here in Antigone Rising brings to our attention just how subversive the Ancient myths can be. Antigone Rising looks at antiquity as a powerfully feminist source that informs our modern #MeToo era in the age of Beyonce. Melding the myths of old with modern women’s issues, Morales argues that the classic tales can be told anyway you like, and that includes putting female characters at the seat of power.
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Breverton’s Phantasmagoria: A Compendium of Monsters, Myths and Legends by Terry Bremerton
Breverton’s Phantasmagoria is an eclectic collection of mythological and legendary creatures, places, treasures, artifacts, and buildings. All the legends and lore you crave can be found in this entertaining tour through all things mythical. There’s the Nymphae, the minotaur, the Olympian gods, Cassandra, among other mythological beings.
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Celtic Myths: The illustrated Book by Mile Fois and Alberto Orso
One of the best Celtic mythology books, Mile Fois’ Celtic Myths is a gorgeously illustrated trip through the mythology of the Celtic people. This book takes you through the myths and legends of the Celts, from Irish and Welsh legendary cycles to the stories of the fairy folk. With Alberto Orso’s generous illustrations, read this book and feel the ancient Celtic mythology rise up through time.
How to read it: Purchase Celtic Myths on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Classical Mythology A to Z by Annette Giesecke and Jim Tierney
This book gives you exactly what it says: a dictionary of Classical mythology from A to Z. More than 700 entries cover gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, creatures and monsters, and notable locations and places. If you enjoy encountering knowledge by browsing through books and finding things out by happenstance, Classical Mythology A to Z is the book for you. Classical Mythology A to Z also makes for a nice coffee table book for mythology geeks.
How to read it: Purchase Classical Mythology A to Z on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths by Ingrid d’Aulaire and Parin d’Aulaire
A childhood classic, D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths isn’t just for kids. This collection is one of the best Norse mythology books for adults, too. For many readers, D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths is the first book of Norse mythology that many people experience. First published in 1967, this book has been reissued by the New York Review of Books’ children’s editions. Now everyone can enjoy these captivating tales from the Northmen.
How to read it: Purchase D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Don’t Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis
One of the best all-around mythology books is Kenneth C. Davis’ Don’t Know Much About Mythology, continuing Davis’ Don’t Know Much About series of popular nonfiction guides that take history out of the dust closet and make them real. In Don’t Know Much About Mythology, Davis takes you through the globe’s mythologies, including those from Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Italy, Celts and Norse, India, China and Japan, and more. If you’re looking for an unpretentious and fun read that gives you all the best parts of the world’s traditional tales and their legacy, this is one of the best mythology books out there.
How to read it: Purchase Don’t Know Much About Mythology on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Early Irish Myths and Sagas by Jeffrey Gantz
This book contains Irish stories that were first written down in the 8th century. Translated by Jeffrey Gantz, Early Irish Myths and Sagas includes stories of Celtic myths and legends, from epic battles to lovers’ passions to the heroic deeds of famous hero Cu Chulaind. If you’re looking for the best Celtic mythology books and enjoy reading the primary source material, this is a great book to dive into and get started with the Celtic myths.
How to read it: Purchase Early Irish Myths and Sagas on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit
One of the best Indian mythology books, Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook collects stories from sacred Sanskrit texts like the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata. These tales stretch all the way back to the tenth century BCE. In 75 tales, you’ll hear all about Vishnu, Krishna, and other major and minor gods, demons, rivers, and creatures. Looking to learn Hindu mythology? This book has it all.
How to read it: Purchase Hindu Myths on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Indian Mythology by Devdutt Pattanaik
Another one of the best Indian mythology books is Devdutt Pattanik’s Indian Mythology. This book compiles 99 myths from all across India. This book goes beyond just including myths, though; Pattanik also uses comparative mythology—essentially, comparing different cultures’ myths—to draw connections between Eastern myths like the Indian ones with more Western traditions like those from Ancient Greece and Scandinavia. Pattanik traces the evolution of these Indian myths across time, revealing how they have evolved, and argues that Indian mythology is alive and well today through the rituals and art.
How to read it: Purchase Indian Mythology on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
The Japanese Myths: A Guide to Gods, Heroes and Spirits by Joshua Frydman
If you’re seeking the best Japanese mythology books, look no further: Joshua Frydman’s The Japanese Myths has it all. This is not only a collection of myths from Japan; instead, Frydman considers the transformation of these tales across time, situating them in history and even in our present. Unlike most Japanese mythology books, Frydman’s book brings the tales to life, showing how they have impacted Japanese culture in the modern era.
How to read it: Purchase The Japanese Myths on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Kalevala: The Epic of the Finnish People edited by Elias Lönnrot
As noted above, the Kalevala is an epic poem of the Finnish people. In this edition from Penguin Classics, the classic translation by editor Elias Lönnrot’s is preserved. A mix of folklore, mythology, and traditional tales of gods and heroes, The Kalevala is a must read for anyone looking for the best mythology books.
How to read it: Purchase The Kalevala on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
The Meaning of Myth by Neel Burton
What is it about myths that capture our attention even today, hundreds if not thousands of years after they were first formed? How do myths relate to science and religion? And who gets to decide who is a hero and who is a villain? It’s all here in Neel Burton’s The Meaning of Myth, a book that explores the function of myth across time and cultures. This comparative mythology book takes a good look at our relationship to myths over time, doing a deep dive into the purpose and legacy of mythology. It belongs on any list of the best mythology books.
How to read it: Purchase The Meaning of Myth on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
First published in 1942, Edith Hamilton’s classic book of Classical mythology is a legend itself; in ninth grade English, we read Hamilton’s Mythology. This book collects Greek, Roman, and Norse myths, told in an easily accessible style that makes it one of the great Greek mythology books for beginners studying myths. In this 75th anniversary illustrated edition, witness the gods and heroes step out of the dusty history books and into your reading experience with vivid and engaging artwork. If there’s only one Greek mythology for adults book you want to own, it’s this one.
How to read it: Purchase Mythology on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Mythology by Scott Lewis
In this brilliantly illustrated book, Scott Lewis combines myths from multiple world mythologies in one place. Few other books are as comprehensive as Mythology, which takes a journey through the world’s cultures and mythologies. You’ll find myths from Greece as well as Japan, China, and Mesopotamia. Each culture’s mythologies are right here in this volume, with equal time spent on creation myths, epics, and gods, goddesses, and monsters. If you’re looking for a one-stop read that’s among the best mythology books, Scott Lewis’ Mythology should be your top choice.
How to read it: Purchase Mythology on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
The Mythology Book by DK
In The Mythology Book, the publishers DK seek to convey “big ideas simply explained,” and that’s an accurate description of this catch-all book about the world’s mythologies. More than 80 myths from across the globe are represented here. But this book goes beyond the conventional myths we all know from school. In fact, this book expands world mythologies to include overlooked and forgotten cultures. Among the mythologies drawn upon in The Mythology Book are Native and Indigenous tribes, the Aztecs, Aboriginal Australians. This makes The Mythology Book not just one of the most comprehensive books on myths out there, but also an inclusive one, and definitely one of the best mythology books.
How to read it: Purchase The Mythology Book on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Mythos by Stephen Fry
Comedian, actor, and author Stephen Fry delivers his take on the Ancient Greek myths in this boisterous book of retellings with full-color illustrations. Like Fry, these myths are quite funny and witty, making this an original take and one of the best Greek mythology books for adults. Fry breathes new life into myths that are thousands of years old, making for a must-read contribution to the best mythology books. As fresh as if they were made yesterday, Fry’s myths are new classics for a new age.
How to read it: Purchase Mythos on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
It’s no secret that I adore British author Neil Gaiman. I’ve recommended his books on this blog before, and I included this one in my list of the best books for adults to read before bed. But it definitely bears recommending yet again. Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology easily belongs on any list of the best Norse mythology books and the best mythology books for adults period. In this dreamlike fantasy retelling of the Norse myths, Gaiman smooths over the stilted framework of Norse mythology and creates new versions that are seductively lush. What’s even better is Gaiman has carefully arranged the tales, so they build on each other until the end-of-the-world myths in the final chapters. Reading these stories makes it seem like the Norse myths are as fantastical as any fantasy book out there today. In that, Gaiman has worked magic by making the old feel new.
How to read it: Purchase Norse Mythology on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes
Too often, mythology is written by men. That motivated author Natalie Haynes to reposition the women of the Greek myths to be front and center in Pandora’s Jar, among the best Greek mythology books and mythology theory. Haynes spends time on all of the major female characters from Greek mythology, including Jocasta, Helen, Medusa, and the Amazons. This feminist work is definitely one of the best Greek mythology books for adults who want to engage with Greek myths on a critical, analytical level.
How to read it: Purchase Pandora’s Jar on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Parallel Myths by J.F. Beirlein
J.F. Beirlein’s Parallel Myths is one of the best mythology books for adults. Beirlein’s book focuses on comparative mythology and mythology theory, drawing parallels between common mythical stories that are found throughout cultures and countries, like creation myths, romantic myths, flood myths, underworld myths, and myths about the apocalypse. First published in 1994, Parallel Myths is an influential book that is still relevant today and a definite must-read for people looking to broaden their understanding about mythology.
How to read it: Purchase Parallel Myths on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt by Joyce Tyldesley
Looking for the best Egyptian mythology books? I’ve got something for you: The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt. This book compiles all the Ancient Egyptian myths and legends in one place. Edited by Joyce Tyldesley, The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt covers everything from the nine gods of Heliopolis, the death of Osiris, and the afterlife and the apocalypse to Isis, warriors, and wise women. One of the best mythology books for adults, this book takes the kiddie gloves off.
How to read it: Purchase The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
No list of the best mythology books would be complete without Joseph Campbell. As a comparative mythologist, Campbell revolutionized the way we think about storytelling. In The Power of Myth, Campbell’s most classic and essential work, the author discusses parallels among the world’s mythologies, like the hero’s journey, gifts from goddesses, sacrifice, and tales of love and marriage. Campbell unites multiple world mythologies and finds common threads among them in this one of the best books about mythology.
How to read it: Purchase The Power of Myth on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson
The Prose Edda is the primary source we have of Norse mythology. Written in the waning days of the Vikings, The Prose Edda preserves Norse myths and legends from Iceland. One of the best Norse mythology books, The Prose Edda is a key volume in the world of myths.
How to read it: Purchase The Prose Edda on Amazon or Buy/Sell/Rent This Book on BookScouter
Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain by Amy Jeffs
And, last but not least in this list of the best mythology books, we have Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain. In this volume, Amy Jeffs synthesizes Irish, Celtic, Welsh, and British legends and lore to create a whole new mythology of the United Kingdom. What’s interesting about this book is how Jeffs unites folklore, legends, myths, and history to fashion a British mythology. The result is an engaging and revolutionary book any mythology geek would want on their shelves.
