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Science of the magical: from the Holy Grail to love potions to superpowers
By Matt Kaplan. 2015
A science reporter for The Economist looks for the germ of truth behind myths. From Bible stories of the Flood…
and from Norse mythology to modern superhero comic books, Kaplan takes popular magical beliefs and shows how they might be grounded in scientific facts. 2015In the days of sand and stars
By Francois Thisdale, Marlee Pinsker. 2006
Ten stories based on women from the Bible: Eve Naamah, Sarai, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Dina, and Yocheved. In "Rebecca…
Comes Home," a compassionate young woman's trip to the community well leads her to a husband. For grades 5-8. 2006The Lakota way: stories and lessons for living
By Joseph M. Marshall, Joseph Marshall. 2001
Twelve traditional tales and allegories told by Lakota elders to impart tribal wisdom on ethics and character. Each story illustrates…
a virtue such as humility, respect, sacrifice, and honesty. In "The Story of the Thunders" a jealous first wife tells how foolishness can lead to wisdom. 2001Medusa's gaze and vampire's bite: the science of monsters
By Matt Kaplan. 2012
Science journalist examines ancient and modern myths of monsters, from the Nemean Lion of ancient Greece to King Kong and…
the Terminator. Uses archaeology and other disciplines to theorize on the sources of these tales and the reasons they fascinate us. Young adult appeal. Some violence. 2012Struwwelpeter
By Heinrich Hoffmann. 1999
Smoke Hole: Looking to the Wild in the Time of the Spyglass
By Martin Shaw. 2021
"With potent, lyrical language and a profound knowledge of storytelling, Shaw encourages and illuminates the mythic in our own lives.…
He is a modern-day bard." – Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles At a time when we are all confronted by not one, but many crossroads in our modern lives—identity, technology, trust, politics, and a global pandemic—celebrated mythologist and wilderness guide Martin Shaw delivers Smoke Hole: three metaphors to help us understand our world, one that is assailed by the seductive promises of social media and shadowed by a health crisis that has brought loneliness and isolation to an all-time high. Smoke Hole is a passionate call to arms and an invitation to use these stories to face the complexities of contemporary life, from fake news, parenthood, climate crises, addictive technology and more. Shaw urges us to reclaim our imagination and untangle ourselves from modern menace, letting these tales be our guide. More Praise: "I can still remember the first time I heard Martin Shaw tell a story. The tale that emerged was like a living thing, bounding around, throwing itself at us there listening. I had never heard anything like it before." – Paul Kingsnorth, Booker shortlisted author of The Wake "Martin Shaw’s work is so very beautiful. A new animal. His love of images is deep and contagious." – Coleman Barks, author of The Essential Rumi "Through feral tales and poetic exegesis, Martin Shaw makes you re-see the world, as a place of adventure, and of initiation, as perfect home, and as perfectly other. What a gift." – David Keenan, author of Xstabeth "Shaw has so much wisdom and knowledge about the old stories, it emanates from his pores." – John Densmore, The DoorsThe Way of a Pilgrim: Candid Tales of a Wanderer to His Spiritual Father
By Anonymous. 2017
By the mercy of God I am a Christian, by my deeds a great sinner, by calling a homeless wanderer…
of the lowliest origins, roaming from place to place. Here, see my belongings: a bag of dry crusts on my back and the Holy Bible in my breast pocket; that's it.In 1884 there appeared in Russia a slim volume containing four short tales. They told of a pilgrim, a lone wanderer, led by his quiet curiosity and a deep spiritual longing to undertake a lifelong journey across the land. A folk hero, a figure familiar from the works of Tolstoy and Leskov, this gentle pilgrim and his simple story would soon travel the world - and would even, much later, traverse the pages of JD Salinger's Franny and Zooey as the 'small pea-green cloth-bound book' that Franny keeps close in her handbag. The pilgrim's ancient journey takes him from a city monastery through forests, fields and the steppes of Siberia. He walks by day and by night, through rains and summer months, finding food and shelter where he can. Along the way, he encounters priests and professors, convicts, nuns and beggars, a tipsy old man in a soldier's greatcoat, from whom he slowly gathers great stores of wisdom and experience. But at the heart of his journey is his time spent praying as he journeys on alone, discovering the peace and consolation that come of constant prayer and silent contemplation.Simple and sincere, The Way of a Pilgrim paints an enduring picture of a life of detachment through wandering and prayer. And, as the pilgrim makes his way through the wilds, he invites us to travel with him, along an ancient path into an immense, mystical landscape.