How do myths and stories influence culture? What is the difference between one culture and another, and how did these differences come to be? Are cultures fixed or do they change over time? Devdutt Pattanaik, India's leading mythologist, breaks down the complex maze of stories, symbols and rituals to examine how they shape cultures. He investigates how stories influence perception and construct truths, the cultural roots of the notion of evil and reveals the need for mythology through a telling of various Indian and Western myths. In doing so, he shows how myths reflect the culture they emerge from while simultaneously reinforcing the source. Culture: 50 Insights from Mythology is a groundbreaking work that contextualizes mythology and proposes that myths are alive, dynamic, shaped by perception and the times one lives in. About the Author Devdutt Pattanaik Writes, illustrates and lectures on the relevance of mythology in modern times. He has, since 1996, written over thirty books and 700 columns on how stories, symbols and rituals construct the subjective truth (myths) of ancient and modern cultures around the world. His books include 7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art (Westland), Myth=Mithya : A Handbook of Hindu Mythology (Penguin), Jaya : An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata (Penguin), Sita : An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana (Penguin), Olympus : An Indian Retelling of the Greek Myths (Penguin), Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management (Aleph Book Company), My Gita (Rupa Publications) and Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik (Penguin).