This is a very strange book indeed. I first heard about it in an alternative magazine called Nexus and it came with rave reviews, many people claiming that it had actually changed their lives. Naturally I was curious and when I final got hold of a copy I found it quite fascinating, however at the same time I must admit I was fairly sceptical about its claims.
Written by Vladimir Megre, it concerns a trip he once made to the Siberian taiga where he met a strange and unusual woman named Anastasia. This woman, who lived alone in the wilderness, then proceeded to tell him the secrets of life, nature and religion. It's supposedly a true story, although this claim takes a stretch of the imagination.
To be honest I still really don't know what to make of this book, which I know doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement. However, whichever way you choose to take its claims they are never the less fascinating. I was working in a factory when I first read this book about a year ago. I read it during my breaks and it really did feel like I was entering another world - the contrast between the nature-loving ideas in this book and the cold clattering atmosphere of the factory floor couldn't have been starker.
Although I'm not really a new age person I must admit that this book really did make an impression on me. I still think about some of its ideas from time to time and even though the hard-headed sceptic in me refuses to take it seriously, the book still grips me enough to make me want to read it again, which is rare for me as I normally only ever read books once. A truly unique tale.
Helen of Troy, Goddess, Princess, Whore: Bettany Hughes
I've just finished reading this book and I really loved it. Bettany Hughes is a fantastic writer and her passionate use of the English language is wonderful. The book concerns Helen of Troy - "the most beautiful woman in the world", and looks at the way our perceptions of her have changed throughout history.
The book also explores the possibility that the Helen story might have been inspired by a real life woman, of flesh and blood, that actually lived and breathed in the ancient world. Hughes takes the archaeological evidence, along with the myths and tales about Helen to create a book that is both accurate and colourful. She is also, as the title suggests, not afraid to delve into the sexual side of ancient life and the book succeeds in painting a very vivid and lively picture of the life a potential Helen could have lived. A brilliant read.
Science: A History: John Gribbin
This book is a real education. I've always been fascinated by science, but my knowledge about the history of science has always been full of gaps. This book really helped fill in those gaps. The book tells the history of science from the renaissance to our current era and in the process it introduces the reader to the various figures that have helped shape our scientific understanding.
It tells of the passions, rivalries, successes and failures that these people experienced and is consequently filled from start to finish with personality as well as with scientific endeavour. For anyone curious about science, but looking for somewhere to start then this is a great book to read. It really does provide a great overview of a very extensive topic.
The New Atlantis: Sir Francis Bacon
First published four hundred years ago, "The New Atlantis" is one of literature's great unfinished works. It is basically Francis Bacon's vision of a scientific utopia and is about a journey by sea to a land inhabited by an advanced civilisation.
The ideas in this book are astounding, especially when you consider that it was written in an age when such thinking was almost completely uncommon. In many ways this tale can actually be seen as a blueprint for the modern world. Of course, the great tragedy is that Bacon never lived to complete it, the true scope of his progressive vision never getting the chance to come to its full fruition. However it still remains one of the most important works ever written and is a fascinating read. France gave the world Nostradamus, but the English give the world Francis Bacon. A visionary that predicted the future - not by using magic and sorcery, but by using logic, common sense and imagination. This book is a great example of how people can transcend the era they're living in. A remarkable tale.
Curious Scotland, Tales from a Hidden History: George Rosie
This is another book that I found quite fascinating. I actually bought it almost by accident. I was looking for another book and I came across this. It was the books cover that really caught my eye. It had a rather grotesque and striking picture of a kilted man with the head of a bull on the front. This unusual image, having caught my attention, then somehow managed to persuade me to buy the book.
When I took it home I didn't really know what to expect. However after I started reading I just couldn't put it down. The book is full of little tales and stories and is one of those books that constantly takes the reader down strange paths and avenues. The author has a remarkable ability when it comes to digging out little gems from history and no matter where this book wanders it never ceases to be interesting. In fact the title "Curious Scotland" is rather apt, as it is definitely a book for the curious. If anyone is thinking about visiting Scotland this would be a great book to whet your appetite. Alternatively, if you actually live in Scotland this book will probably tell you a lot you don't already know about the country. A real jewel box of a book.
Pagan Resurrection: Richard Rudgley
This is another book that wanders through its topic with careless ease. It's about pagan myths and gods, in particular the pagan deity Odin. The book explores the way these myths and ideas have returned from the wilderness and re-entered mainstream thought. Showing how they have been reawakened now that Christianity has started to lose its grip on the western psyche.
The book is at times fascinating and it effectively illustrates how pagan concepts have affected much of Europe and North America. Highlighting the role this pagan revival played in the rise of Nazism, the affect it had on the philosophies of Carl Jung and its presence in some of the major art and literature that has been produced over the last couple of centuries. This is a really insightful book and it helps cast light on an aspect of modern culture that often goes unnoticed. A very interesting read.
The Secret History of the World: Jonathan Black
Like the first book on this list this is another that I'm not really sure what to make of. It gives an alternative account of human history that is both strange and unconventional. The author claims that this history comes from the secret knowledge that has been guarded by secret societies throughout the ages. Clearly an outlandish claim.
Some of the reviews I read of th ebook at the time of its release were quite scathing, which is understandable given the books content. However when I read it I really enjoyed it. The claims made in the book are outrageous and they are difficult to square with conventional thinking, however they are never the less fascinating. As I read this book I really did begin to question our received wisdom about humanity, life and the world around us. Even if nothing in this book is true, as a thought experiment it is an excellent read. Its ideas are attractive, if outlandish and they do provide another layer of thinking to the myths and stories of human history. More of an adventure through history than an accurate portrayal of it, but an interesting read all the same.
