The Mythology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained

The Mythology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by DK is exactly what it says on the cover—a broad, accessible look at myths from around the world. It doesn’t try to be the ultimate authority on any one tradition, but it’s a great place to start if you’re curious about how different cultures have told their stories.

I also love that it has quotes dotted around the book about mythology, like this one in the introduction:

“Myth…takes all the things you know and restores them the rich significance hidden by the veil of familiarity.”

C. S. Lewis

The book covers over 80 myths, grouped by region—Greek, Roman, Northen Europe, Asian, The Americas, Ancient Egypt and Africa and Oceania. Each story is told in a few pages, some in a few paragraphs with clear summaries, timelines, and bold visuals that help you get the gist without getting lost in too much detail. 

It’s especially helpful if you’re new to mythology or just want a quick refresher.

What I liked the most is how it balances simplicity with insight. The layout is clean, the language is straightforward, and the visuals make it easy to follow along. It’s not trying to be poetic or overly academic—it just wants to share the stories in a way that’s easy to understand and enjoy.

It has these nice little “In Brief” sections at the start of chapters which helps you quickly understand the topic.

Obviously, with so many cultures and stories packed into one book, some myths get only a brief mention. If you’re looking for deep dives or detailed analysis, you might need to look elsewhere. But as a starting point—or even just a fun read—it does the job pretty well.

Overall, if you’re interested in mythology and want a book that’s both informative and easy to digest, this one’s worth picking up. It’s a solid introduction that might just inspire you to explore further.