Other books that might interest you

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  Talking Cure - An Essay on the...

  Paula Marantz Cohen

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  Talking Cure is a timely and enticing excursion into the art of good conversation. Paula Marantz Cohen reveals how conversation connects us in ways that social media never can and explains why simply talking to each other freely and without guile may be the cure to what ails our troubled society. 
   
   
   
  Drawing on her lifelong immersion in literature and culture and her decades of experience as a teacher and critic, Cohen argues that we learn to converse in our families and then carry that knowledge into a broader world where we encounter diverse opinions and sensibilities. She discusses the role of food in encouraging conversation, the challenges of writing dialogue in fiction, the pros and cons of Zoom, the relationship of conversation to vaudeville acts, and the educational value of a good college seminar where students learn to talk about ideas. Cohen looks at some of the famous groups of writers and artists in history whose conversation fed their creativity, and details some of the habits that can result in bad conversation. 
   
   
   
  Blending the immediacy of a beautifully crafted memoir with the conviviality of an intimate gathering with friends, Talking Cure makes a persuasive case for the civilizing value of conversation and is essential listening for anyone interested in the chatter that fuels culture.

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  The Elephant Leg's Rope - A...

  Shady El Seify

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  A short story about an Egyptian young man who wanders around Cairo until he finds himself in the zoo to look at an elephant. He is surprised that the elephant looks at him with the same look as he does, so their minds unite and separate to see the world from the perspective of an elephant tied with a rope to its leg.

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  The Mythology of the Incas -...

  Odessa Nightshade

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  The mythology of the Incas is a fascinating tapestry of gods, legends, and rituals that shaped the spiritual and cultural identity of one of the most powerful civilizations in the Americas. Unlike written traditions found in other ancient cultures, Incan mythology was passed down orally, with each generation preserving and refining the stories that explained the origins of the world, the forces of nature, and the role of human beings in the cosmos. These myths were deeply intertwined with the daily lives of the Inca people, influencing everything from their agricultural practices to their political structures.  
    
  At the heart of Incan mythology was a complex belief system that divided the universe into three realms: Hanan Pacha, the upper world of the gods; Kay Pacha, the earthly realm of humans; and Uku Pacha, the underworld where spirits and ancestors resided. These realms were connected by sacred mountains, rivers, and celestial bodies, all of which were considered divine. The gods of the Incan pantheon, led by Viracocha, the supreme creator, played a central role in shaping the world and maintaining balance within these realms. Inti, the sun god, was revered as the divine ancestor of the ruling class, while Pachamama, the earth goddess, was honored for providing sustenance and fertility.  
    
  Rituals and ceremonies were essential to maintaining harmony between the natural and supernatural worlds. The Inca performed elaborate festivals, such as Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, to honor their deities and ensure the continuation of prosperity. Priests and oracles played a crucial role in interpreting the will of the gods, often conducting sacrifices—both animal and human—as acts of devotion and appeasement. Sacred sites, including Coricancha in Cusco and Machu Picchu, served as centers of worship where offerings were made to the gods. 

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  Old Truths and New Clichés -...

  Isaac Bashevis Singer

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  Old Truths and New Clichés collects nineteen essays—most of them previously unpublished in English—by Isaac Bashevis Singer on topics that were central to his artistic vision throughout an astonishing and prolific literary career spanning more than six decades. Expanding on themes reflected in his best-known work, the book illuminates in new ways the rich intellectual, aesthetic, religious, and biographical background of Singer's singular achievement as the first Yiddish-language author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. 
   
   
   
  Like a modern Montaigne, Singer studied human nature and created a body of work that contributed to a deeper understanding of the human spirit. Much of his philosophical thought was funneled into his stories. Yet these essays, which Singer himself translated into English or oversaw the translation of, present his ideas in a new way, as universal reflections on the role of the artist in modern society. 
   
   
   
  Old Truths and New Clichés brims with stunning archival finds that will make a significant impact on how listeners understand Singer and his work. Singer's critical essays have long been overlooked because he has been thought of almost exclusively as a storyteller. This book offers an important correction to the record by further establishing Singer as a formidable intellectual.

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  Hearts on Fire - Six Years that...

  Michael Barclay

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  An authoritative, unprecedented account of how in the early 2000s Canadian music finally became cool
  		 
  Hearts on Fire is about the creative explosion in Canadian music of the early 2000s, which captured the world’s attention in entirely new ways. The Canadian wave didn’t just sweep over one genre or one city, it stretched from coast to coast, affecting large bands and solo performers, rock bands and DJs, and it connected to international scenes by capitalizing on new technology and old-school DIY methods.
  		 
  Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Feist, Tegan and Sara, Alexisonfire: those were just the tip of the iceberg. This is also the story of hippie chicks, turntablists, poetic punks, absurdist pranksters, queer orchestras, obtuse wordsmiths, electronic psychedelic jazz, power-pop supergroups, sexually bold electro queens, cowboys who used to play speed metal, garage rock evangelists, classically trained solo violinists, and the hip-hop scene that preceded Drake. This is Canada like it had never sounded before. This is the Canada that soundtracked the dawn of a new century.
  		 
  Featuring more than 100 exclusive interviews and two decades of research, Hearts on Fire is the music book every Canadian music fan will want on their shelf.

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  Let The Playing Field Level The...

  Dennis Joiner

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  The book is intended to describe America’s longing for a more perfect union and its frustration in achieving the metaphorical level playing field. Dennis believes that although change may not happen tomorrow, but sometime in the future, science and technology will definitely play an important role in allowing the playing field to level itself.

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