In Myths and Mythmakers, John Fiske examines the origins of ancient stories, revealing how early humans used myth to make sense of the natural world. Drawing on evolutionary theory and linguistics, he explains how early poetic language and metaphor eventually gave rise to myths about gods, heroes, and legendary events. Fiske repositions mythology as a vital expression of human development – far from being mere fables, myths are portrayed as the natural outcome of humanity’s first efforts to understand their surroundings.