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  Folk Myths and Legends -...

  Odessa Nightshade

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  Since the dawn of civilization, storytelling has been an essential part of human culture. Long before written language, myths and legends were passed down through generations, shaping societies, preserving history, and explaining the mysteries of the world. These tales, often woven with elements of the supernatural, serve not only as entertainment but also as a means of teaching values, reinforcing traditions, and connecting people to their heritage. Whether told around a fire, painted on cave walls, or transcribed into sacred texts, myths and legends offer profound insights into the beliefs and customs of different cultures.  
  One of the most remarkable aspects of folklore is its universality. While each culture has its own unique stories, striking similarities emerge when comparing myths from different parts of the world. Themes of creation, heroism, trickery, love, and the afterlife appear across civilizations, suggesting a shared human experience. The flood myth, for example, exists in various forms in Mesopotamian, biblical, Hindu, and Indigenous traditions, each with its own interpretation but conveying a common theme of destruction and renewal. These recurring motifs highlight how storytelling transcends time and geography, reinforcing the idea that despite cultural differences, people everywhere grapple with similar questions about existence, morality, and destiny.  
  Myths and legends also serve as powerful tools for shaping identity and societal values. Many of history’s greatest civilizations—Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Chinese, among others—built their cultural foundations upon stories of gods, heroes, and mythical creatures. These tales not only provided explanations for natural phenomena but also established codes of behavior, demonstrating the rewards of courage, loyalty, and wisdom while warning against greed, deceit, and hubris.

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  Serpent Legends: The History and...

  Editors Charles River

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  The first specimen of megamouth shark (megachasma pelagios) was discovered on November 15, 1976, when it was found entangled in the drag anchor of a U.S. Navy ship. The new creature wasn't described scientifically until 1983…The megamouth remains the only species in its genus, and the only genus in its order.”  
  	That discovery was a reminder that the oceans of the world have always had an air of mystery. About 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and until the 20th century no one had plumbed its depths. Even today the bigger seas and oceans remain a largely unexplored frontier, with new species being discovered every year. Thus it comes as no surprise that countless legends have arisen of strange creatures lurking in the depths.  
  	Of course, the most famous serpent of them all supposedly dwells in Scotland. While cryptids like Bigfoot and the Yeti have become popular in recent decades, none of them can touch the notoriety of the Loch Ness Monster, a large, unknown creature allegedly living in a loch in the Highlands of Scotland. Was it a relic dinosaur or perhaps an entirely new species? New photographs and new eyewitness sightings fueled a growing debate and transformed the Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie, into an instantly recognizable staple of pop culture, to the extent that hundreds of thousands of visitors came to Loch Ness every year in hopes of catching a glimpse of the loch’s famous inhabitant.  
  	The Loch Ness Monster remains an international brand and the best-known cryptid in the world, but after almost 100 years of fame and media attention, what do people really know about this cryptid, and is there any proof that there really is something large and unknown living in a remote Scottish loch? 

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  Found: A Veteran Story

  Jack McLean

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  Fascinating journey about a Marine grunt's quest for healing the wounds of his war and how he discovered the best medicine of all was tracking down and reuniting with his fellow survivors and with the families of the fallen.

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  Is There Such Thing As Free...

  Jiddu Krishnamurti

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  "s there such thing as free will? - 31 May 1967  
  • Is freedom partial? 
  • Why should I be bound to destiny? Born in India with the tremendous cultural 
  traditions, why should I be caught in it? 
  • Man is more important than the frame into which he is put. 
  • Is it possible for a human being to free himself from society, psychologically? 
  • Human beings have to change, and will thought change us? 
  • Man is society, has created the society in which we live. 
  • Are you influenced to change from outside or do you change from yourself? 
  • To change according to a pattern is no change at all."

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  On Liberty

  John Stuart Mill

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  On Liberty by John Stuart Mill is a powerful and enduring philosophical essay that explores the nature and boundaries of individual freedom in society. Written in 1859 during a period of political and intellectual upheaval, Mill makes an impassioned case for the sanctity of personal liberty—arguing that individuals should be free to act, think, and express themselves as they choose, so long as they do not harm others. 
  Mill’s central thesis, often referred to as the "harm principle," remains one of the cornerstones of liberal political thought: that the only justification for societal or governmental interference in a person’s life is to prevent harm to others. With remarkable clarity, he examines the relationship between authority and autonomy, tackling issues like free speech, individuality, moral policing, and the role of dissent in democratic society. 
  Narrated with depth and thoughtfulness by Luke Oldham, this audiobook brings to life one of the most influential works in political philosophy—a timeless defense of freedom and a clarion call for the courage to think for oneself.

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  Mill's On Liberty

  John Stuart Mill

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  Mill's thinking about freedom in civic and social life examines fundamental principles shared among conservative, liberal, and radical politicians. The life of true philosophy stands outside the political battles that are rampant in society and seeks the political wisdom that is necessary for a good life in any age. Mill's philosophical presentation and analysis of those principles stand alongside the reflections of Plato, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
   
  When the officials of any government seek to change the laws that regulate individual liberty or when rhetoricians seek to change public opinion about what individuals should or should not be allowed to say or do, Mill's On Liberty serves as an effective antidote to the poisons of excessive intrusion into the lives of individuals. The present edition is specifically designed to employ the dual nature of rhetoric — oral and written language — and to utilize electronic technology to open Mill's text to contemporary listeners as well as readers.

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