Book Description
In his classic study The Masks of God, Joseph Campbell conducted us on a fascinating global tour, showing how the seeds of myth grew in a similar fashion throughout the history of civilization. Before Campbell there was Sir James George Frazier who, in The Golden Bough--his pioneering study of magic, relgion, and folk custom--demonstrated how world mythologies exhibit "the effect of similar causes acting alike on the similar constitution of the human mind in different countries and under different skies." Now, in Beyond the Blue Horizon, eminent astronomer E.C. Krupp guides us expertly through a bewildering maze of cultures and civilizations--from the stone age to the present day--making clear that while the skies of these diverse peoples may vary, they speak nearly the same language. Beyond the Blue Horizon is a treasure trove of myths, legends, and stories in which people have, through the ages, attempted to understand the cosmos and its meaning for humankind. Collecting an astonishing amount of lore between the covers of a single book, Krupp explains why our ancestors were so intrigued by the heavens, and what their celestial stories meant. Readers will learn, for example, that many cultures saw a rabbit--rather than a man--in the moon, and that this moon-rabbit, as a symbol of sacrifice and rebirth, is a cousin of our own Easter Bunny; that to our ancestors, an eclipse challenged the stability and integrity of heaven and thus threatened order and life on earth; that the magical sleighride and chimney antics of Santa Claus echo the ancient journeys of shamans and witch doctors; that our "dog days" of July and August originated in Roman times with the summer appearance of Sirius, the Dog Star; and that the contemporary stories of UFOs reveal the mystery and meaning the sky still holds for us as we approach the twenty-first century. Of course, there is much, much more that will delight and intrigue; even readers familiar with world mythology will find plenty that is new and strange in Krupp's rich panorama. An epic, authoritative, and cross-cultural exploration with over 150 illustrations, Beyond the Blue Horizon tells how all civilizations searched the sky to understand to universe--and our own place in it.
Customer Reviews:
Extensive.......2002-07-07
Krupp has written a book that is comparable to Frazer's Golden Bough and Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces. He traces the evolution of sky myths from cultures around the globe. Krupp does an excellent job of capturing the meaning and beauty of these stories, and pieces them together in a well-crafted narrative.
Really Facinating Book..........2000-03-28
Beyond the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets, is a very interesting and amazing read-- it confronts many possibilities of the place outside our blue sky, and gives the reader something to think about for long after the last page is read. Not only is this book worth reading for the pure fun of it, but it teachs you things that may come in handy at dinner table conversation. Facinating is the word that comes to mind... the myths about the stars and planets can sometimes be good bedtime stories, and over all, this book keeps you wanting more.
Book Description
In Native American tradition, the purified essence of all things is Light, and the purpose of our lives is to generate that Light. Here for the first time, a native teacher goes beyond the trappings of ritual and ceremony to reveal the core philosophies behind this sacred wisdom. Raised in the traditions of the Native American Way, author and educator Chokecherry Gall Eagle has been granted permission to share the secrets of the Fire Teachings and the Stone Dreams, and he does so through revealing anecdotes and remarkable tales of spiritual growth and adventure. He explains the Four Directions and their significance in our lives, and tells us how to see the everyday manifestations of the Great Spirit that runs through all things. Beautifully written and intellectually rewarding, this spiritual guidebook is vital for every seeker of truth and healing, or anyone looking to restore balance and harmony to his life.
Customer Reviews:
A rare book!.......2001-07-27
This is a very enlightening book. Finally, it seems someone has had the courage to divulge some of the more esoteric teachings of Native American spirituality. I have studied esoteric teachings for many years, and there is far between books like these that really gives you many and deep insights. Definitely a book that can be read many times, and each time you will get something more out of it. A far cry from the books of "plastic medicine men". T. ex you can buy books out there that tells you how to make your own medicine wheel, even coming from a non-native background. This book will tell you that you are not reallly ready for any such thing before AT LEAST 30 years of study and practice. No quick-fixes here! As non-natives we need to have an very deep respect for Native American spirituality. First we took their land, then we prohibited their religion and language, forcing their children to go to boarding schools in order to brainwash them into Churchianity and capitalism (this first ended in 1970!!), and THEN well-meaning, if ignorant, people come and demand to be initiated into their spirituality, taking Indian names, charging money for teachings, etc. I do believe we can learn from them, if we will listen with an attitude of respect.It is wonderful that Chokecherry Call Eagle had the mission and the courage to publish the teachings in this book. An extremely honest and higly recommendable book..!
Astounding.......2001-07-16
I read a lot of books on Native American spirituality, Christianity and other spiritual paths, and I don't think I have ever encountered one this good. Chokecherry Gall Eagle has led a truly amazing and unparalleled life. The wisdom he has gained and the fact that he is willing to share this knowledge with everyone is still amazing me. There are so many lessons to be learned from what he has to say. I have read it twice and I am sure will read it many more times, just to soak in as much as I can. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in any aspect of spirituality, or to anyone who wants to read an amazing story.
Beyond the Lodge of the Sun.......2000-02-09
This book was a delightful surprise! The author's words and opinions spoke loudly to me and I appreciate his candor and willingness to present the story and information in a way that is more easily understood by people who are not steeped in the traditions and concepts of Native American Spirituality. While the book was very interesting and entertaining, the most important impact this book had on me was triggering a lot of introspection and thought on my own beliefs, particularly in regard to Native American spirituality. The author's sincerity and seriousness about the subject matter were refreshing, and the depth of his committment is obvious. There is one thing about this subject, book, and author that I was left with to chew on that I have thought of many times before and still have not found much resolution on. For people who are sincerely trying to learn from this Red Road in order to make themselves a better human being, the author's personal experiences are enviable. There is so much "stuff" out there and so few people who truly have the traditional knowledge and the sincere commitment, that experiencing the "real" thing when it comes to interaction with people tends to be the exception rather than the rule. I guess we all have to do as best we can, stay sincere and committed, and trust that the Creator will provide us with the appropriate guidance and direction. In closing, I would like to thank Mr. Gall Eagle for his willingness to share his life experiences, his knowledge, and his wisdom; but mostly I would like to thank him for simply being who he is and living the life he is living. There is much in this book for people to learn from, if you take the time to look within and examine yourself honestly. Take time to sit and "Cogitate" (as my grandfather used to say), to let the messages and wisdom that are there for you individually, manifest themselves. There is much here below the surface for those who ernestly seek.
Book Description
Merely a decade ago there were no known planets orbiting sunlike stars outside our own solar system. In the past ten years, however, fast-paced developments in astronomy have revealed over 140 extrasolar planets--with more discoveries surely on the way. Though it will be years before we have direct images of these far-flung worlds, this lavishly illustrated book gives us an idea of what they might look like. A fascinating exploration of the cosmos written for a wide audience, Infinite Worlds brings together Lynette Cook's internationally renowned astronomical artwork, the latest and most dramatic images from the world's top observatories, and up-to-the-minute scientific findings on subjects ranging from the big bang and stellar evolution to a possible universe filled with countless planets and life forms.
The newly discovered planets are boggling astronomers' minds with their bizarre characteristics, including an unimagined diversity of sizes and orbits. In Lynette Cook's scientifically based illustrations--many newly created for this book--we glimpse the landscapes and atmospheres that might adorn these planets. Ray Villard's text elegantly describes the state of astronomy today, imagines where it will take us in the coming years, ponders the chances of success for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and explores the survivability of life in an evolving and accelerating universe.
Customer Reviews:
Mind Expanding.......2007-02-10
The text and artwork in this volume are first class. The art is exceptionally beautiful and is only enhanced by the story. Together, they bring together what we know with what is likely and expands that to a universe of pure possibility. There's nothing dry about this marvelous work. Infinite Worlds is noteworthy accomplishment.
reminds me of Bonestall's paintings.......2006-11-05
The images are everything in this book. Not that the text is badly written. Far from it. But the text is clearly subordinate to letting you see the imagination of many talented artists, as they depict worlds in other planetary systems. Speculative, but based on solid science. And astronomers now have detected over 200 worlds. The book explains how from sometimes single pixels, information is teased out about a world. Impressive. We now have detected enough worlds that we can start talking of classifications and statistics across worlds.
What the book clearly leads up to is a desire for more, better images. Well, you will have to wait at least 10 years, as new telescopes are being constructed.
Science fiction readers might compare these paintings to those made decades ago by Chesley Bonestall. His were necessarily more imaginative. But both types can be very evocative.
Different book than the title might suggest........2006-05-17
The title of this book is "Infinite Worlds: An Illustrated Voyage to Planets beyond our Sun". However, only a fraction of the book actually deals with extrasolar planets. I purchased this book based on the assumption that it would be about extrasolar planets. Instead most of the book is based on theories of galaxy formations, birth and death of stars and planets, and theoretical extraterrestrial life. It also describes our Solar System in detail. The artwork is very good although other space artists I have seen on the internet have superior artistic ability than Cook. Overall, though, this is still an interesting book. But potential readers should know that this is not a book about extrasolar planets.
nice but flawed.......2005-09-21
excellent atrwork of the highest standard; would have been nice to have mentioned HD114762, the FIRST extrasolar planet discovered by the center for astrophysics in 1989.
Infinitely enjoyable...........2005-06-22
A very delightful book. The writing by Ray Villard was surprisingly different than most "astro books" by *not* sounding like a textbook. There are many interesting facts and tidbits that I had not heard before that made reading it quite interesting. Lyn's art of course made the book. There are dozens of her trademark-styled images, each illustrating what the writer is saying. I particularly liked Lyn's use of stratus layers in the landscapes. Five of the images must have taken ages to paint with all the layers in there (Greenhouse Earth on pg 49, HD 16141 b and Moon on pg 108, Planet in the Virgo Cluster on pg 190, Terrestrial Planet at 55 Cancri on pg 171, and Planet Near the Siamese Squid Nebula on pg 53). The Siamese Squid image is really eye-catching with it's pink and green layers and Planet at 55 Cancri is a gorgeous painting in brilliant reds and yellows of sunset. Lyn's attention to the way the waves of the lake curve and reflect the light is just amazing, as is the detailed way the shadows of the rocks fall on the water. This is my favorite image of the book. Another very effective painting is HD 177830 b and Moon on pg 117, a beautiful image of a habitable moon orbiting a Saturnian-like panet. Imagine the night view beings on this planet would have! In fact, I found almost every image in the book to be excellent and inspiring. All-in-all, Lyn's done a remarkable job in this book, definitely a "must add" to your astronomical art collection.
Book Description
Intimate and beautifully written, Black Gold of the Sun is a compelling memoir that chronicles a man’s journey to his ancestral home and to the hidden keeps of his heritage.
In 2001, at the age of thirty-three, Ekow Eshun–born in London to African-born parents–embarks on a trip to Ghana in search of his roots, and in this rich narrative he evokes both the physical and emotional aspects of his travels. Eshun makes his way to Accra, Ghana’s cosmopolitan capital city; to the storied slave forts of Elmina; to the historic warrior kingdom of Asante. He reflects on earlier pilgrims who followed the same path–W. E. B. DuBois, Richard Wright, Malcolm X–and on the millions of slaves shipped to the West from the Ghanaian coast. He recalls the racially charged years of his youth, and he considers the paradoxes and possibilities in contemporary Britain for someone like himself. Finally, he uncovers a long-held secret about his lineage that will compel him to question everything he knows about himself and about where he comes from.
Written with exquisite particularity of place and mind, and with rare immediacy and candor, Black Gold of the Sun tells a story of identity, belonging, and unexpected hope.
Customer Reviews:
Stunning read.......2007-09-06
Ekow Eshun's Black Gold of the Sun is a spellbinding account of his search for himself. Enchanting and enlightening, tender and vibrant are the images he creates as he shares what is discovered during his journeys.
What is so remarkable about this book is how one can almost imagine traveling along with Ekow. British born, of Ghanaian parents, more often than not, this young man was asked where he was really from. Questions, questions always questions. Yet, none are as pressing as the ones he asks himself.
From the time that his plane lands in Ghana, this saga kept me glued to its pages. I felt as if I was traveling with the author from London to Ghana, from Ghana to London. Ekow searches for his past as he searches for himself and finds out more about his heritage than he bargained for. The climax of this search is well worth the read. As he discovers his family, past and present, he finds his own self worth.
A compelling, skilled author, Ekow Eshun's story should be grasped by any and all who seek to listen and learn. He is allowing all who would like to travel with him just for a while and enjoy the wonder of Black Gold of the Sun.
Armchair Interviews says: Allow yourself to be the author's traveling companion.
Identity - Where am i from?.......2007-08-16
I give this book a 4 star because I felt I gained something by reading it. Though I am an African American, I could really relate to most of his experiences, accept being isolated from my culture.
I smiled to myself when a character called African American tourists "ugly people" or something to that affect. The character laments about our superiority complex when in Ghana and claiming to be more African then the African, yet we behave like ugly Americans when we don't get 1st world service. There is much truth to that.
However, from personal experiences, the service and the attitudes of the Africans can be really awful when they are dealing with other black people. It sometimes appears they resent our presence. Yet when an Oyinbo or Burenyi comes around they grovel and fawn like toothy hyenas and step on your head to service them with a smile. I guess it is that inferiority complex and viewing whites as superior to them. This is just my opinion. Please no hate notes.
I was also amused about the author's experience in visiting an African Christian church. Those are some scary places. I have attended a few just for curiosity. What an incredible scam and the believers are very cult like.
But most importantly, this book speaks to belonging and knowing where you came from. I have had such experiences in Africa. However, I was never one of those seeking to find "home." I have always been pretty confident that I am a woman of African descent, an amalgamation of various ethnic Africans, born and raised in the US. What I discovered most about my travels to the African continent is that I am an American. There is no one more American than the African Americans.
The "Big Man" phenomenon is so accurate. African societies are very caste oriented, and everyone has a desperate need to feel superior and look down their noses at others. Many of them have this over inflated sense of self. Ekow description of the bank manager screaming at him like a child because he came into the bank out of the rain is accurate. The bank manager's response when he realized that the author had a non-Ghanaian accent that he back downs and grovels, realizing that this must be his superior, simply because he is a westerner. I have had this experience too. It is very strange and disturbing.
Ekow spoke of W.E. Dubois's theory of "double consciousness" of being born into a white world. Yes, all people of African descent have this gift of double consciousness. It is survival technique when born in the west. It allows us to maneuver in our intimate world and with those outside of that world. I can't recall the author's name, but she referred to it as switching. We have double faces. We wear the mask as Paul Lawrence Dunbar alluded to. It is a permanent part of our wardrobe. We take it off and put it back on when the need arises.
Ekow went to Ghana to find out where he is from. However, I am not sure of what his conclusion was. He had some serious emotional issues about his identity. In Ghana he also is an outsider with another aspect of the double consciousness. His roots are in the soil of Ghana, yet his heart and mind is in Britain, the west. He is only a generation removed, yet he feels alienated in Britain and Ghana. Imagine people of African descent who are generations removed from Africa. The question is can you ever go back "home" as they say? I say home is where your heart is and the people you love and the society you relate to and feel most comfortable. Can you go and visit and experience the land of the ancestors? Absolutely! Some of us can even pick our western lives and go and live there. Why note? The Europeans and Asians are living there.
I believe that this book is a good read for anyone of African descent, and those who want to know what it is like to go to an African country and realized you are a foreigner. However, I am a foreigner among familar looking faces, faces of people that I know and family members. I don't mind being a foreigner. Because a native can go a little way up the road in his country and be considered a foreigner. I could relate much to many of Ekow's experiences.
The best book out there on belonging........2006-11-16
What does home mean for immigrants? What does home mean for black people in a white world?
What pushes Black Gold of the Sun beyond the level of travel literature and memoir is his cultural criticisms of the meaning of British blackness, especially British Africanness contrasted with British West Indianness and African-Americanness. The sounds of his childhood were American, and African American. Eshun was the son of Ghanaian diplomats, but most African Americans are the descendents of West African slaves. Still, it is the African Americans who managed to create a critical consciousness of blackness in England.
Book Description
While many photographs of Indians from the turn of the twentieth century pandered to insensitive stereotypes, those made by Frank A. Rinehart conveyed the dignity and pride of Native peoples. This book features one hundred outstanding images printed from Rinehart's original negatives and also includes 14 essays by modern Native American writers, artists, and educators--some of them descendants of the individuals photographed--reflecting on the place of these images in their heritage. Just as this collection offers today's Native Americans a unique connection to the past, this book offers all readers a positive understanding of continuity and endurance within the American Indian community.
Customer Reviews:
recommended for native studies shelves.......2005-04-17
Beyond the Reach of Time and Change: Native American Reflections on the Frank A. Rinehart Photograph Collection features one hundred photographic portraits taken during the very late nineteenth century by professional Frank A. Rinehart. Rinehart practiced his trade upon Native Americans in their traditional dress during the an event known as the Indian Congress; his landmark photography, which unlike that of others did not pander to shameless stereotypes, rests in the Haskell Indian Nations University today and is widely regarded as one of the best photographic documentaries of the era. In addition to the powerful black-and-white photographs of individuals and groups from a wide variety of native tribes, Beyond the Reach of Time and Change features 14 essays by modern Native American writers, artists and educators - including some descendants of the individuals photographed - offering various reflections upon the role of these timeless images in their heritage. Highly recommended for native studies shelves and personal collections, and an emotional collection to page through.
Book Description
God's hand of providence in the life of individuals affects the very fabric of history. As we glimpse into the life of an Indian maiden, we see the picture of a young woman perfectly prepared to play her important part in our nation's history: from a peaceful childhood to the hardships of enslavement culminating in her courageous role in the explorations of Lewis and Clark.
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Beyond the Rising Sun: Nationalism in Contemporary Japan
Bruce Stronach
Manufacturer: Praeger Paperback
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Japan Rising: The Resurgence of Japanese Power And Purpose
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Nationalisms of Japan: Managing and Mystifying Identity
ASIN: 0275950352 |
Book Description
There has long been concern that Japan's aggressive economic development might be a harbinger of an equally aggressive nationalism, reminiscent of the dark era leading up to World War II. The media has fueled the image of a newly aggressive Japan by using martial metaphors such as "Samurai capitalism" that is "invading" American markets. Moreover, the Japanese are also portrayed as subservient members of a conformist society manipulated by political authority. However, a long-time resident in Japan and scholar on U.S.-Japanese relations argues that contemporary Japanese nationalism has no connection to its prewar embodiment and fears of an authoritarian and aggressive Japan have no basis in reality. Of the many changes in Japan since the end of the war, the most significant has been the development of a deeply ingrained democratic political culture. Although a strong force in Japan today, nationalism is manifested by a strong ethnic, cultural, and racial identification and not by citizen identification with the state. By examining the wide varieties of nationalism in contemporary Japan and by explaining the role that they play in society and politics, academics, professionals, government officials, business people, and the general public will find this analysis invaluable for understanding contemporary Japan. This short text is designed also for use in courses in Japanese politics, contemporary Japanese society and culture, and U.S.-Japanese relations.
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BEYOND ANOTHER SUN
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000BBYRQ6 |
Books:
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