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• Current

Type: scientific

Status: favorite

Author: Peter N. Jones

Tags: science anthropology religion native americans shamans

Description: Shamanism... what is it? Is it a phenomenon with a clear definition or with a set of clearlyShamanism... what is it? Is it a phenomenon with a clear definition or with a set of clearly definable attributes? Has the phenomenon changed over time, or are today's versions found in suburban basements the same as those that were practiced hundreds of years ago by various tribal people? What can we figure out about shamanism if we simply look at the term itself and how it has been employed over time? What if we restrict ourselves to one geographic location? These are some of the questions grappled with, and partially answered, in this book. By discussing the historical use of the terms shamanism and shaman in North America, Peter N. Jones offers fresh insights into the history of this phenomenon. Comparing current understandings and descriptions of the phenomenon with those of the historical and archival record, Shamans and Shamanism presents a comprehensive analysis of the terms use over time. Included in the book is a comprehensive bibliography of the term's use in North America. Shamans and Shamanism is an important resource for anyone interested in this phenomenon. It provides new insights into the history of the terms, their use in both academic and pop literature, and offers a starting point for future investigations of the phenomenon....

2009-01-10

• Current

Type: fiction

Status: favorite

Authors: Linton Robinson Ana Maria Corona

Tags: stories fiction magic sex cooking food short mexico culinary border

Description: National borders are abstract lines that take root as physical barricades and divides. CulturalNational borders are abstract lines that take root as physical barricades and divides. Cultural differences create people whose differences from others stem entirely from their minds. Lovers, societies and families are bound together with bonds as fragile and ephemeral as the mooring lines of great ships. And inside each person is a map or similar boundaries, frontiers, and alliances. This book turns the visible differences at the border of two nations into a mirror, a metaphor for the human condition.

When these stories first appeared in San Diego periodicals, Baja Week and Harpers, they were acclaimed as more than just "border fiction" by writer friends: critics praised the blending of Linton Robinson's craftsmanship and transparent style with Ana Maria Corona's clear-eyed witness and charming voice. Now they are collected in book format for readers outside of the border area... but within the eternal no-man's land of their humanity....

2008-08-31

• Current

Type: fiction

Status: favorite

Author: William Hood

Tags: wilderness enlightenment transformation hiking mountains backpacking Colorado

Description: In his book, Searching for a Perfect State of Colorado, author William Hood takes us alongIn his book, Searching for a Perfect State of Colorado, author William Hood takes us along on his own harrowing journey as he attempts to cross the Weminuche Wilderness Area, by himself, in September of 2002. He would complete this one hundred mile trek in just nine days as backpacking across the San Juan mountains transcends from a physical challenge, to a mental test, to ultimately a spiritual enlightenment....

2008-06-01