The Masks of God

The Masks of God is a nonfiction series by Joseph Campbell, centered on mythology and the different ways cultures express it. From the series title and the books included here, it reads as a broad exploration of myth across different traditions, with a comparative look at Eastern and Western worlds and at how myths are formed and transformed. It is a good fit for readers interested in religion, folklore, culture, and the history of ideas rather than a single narrative story.

Based on the data here, there is no indication of a required reading order beyond publication order, and that is the order shown on the page. The database includes 4 books, published between 1959 and 1968. If you want to see how Campbell develops the series as a whole, the most natural way to read it is from the first volume onward in publication order.

If you want a place to begin, start with Primitive Mythology or Oriental Mythology. The series is especially suited to readers who enjoy nonfiction about myths, cross-cultural comparison, and big-picture thinking about ancient stories and their role in human culture.