Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
Ebook446 pages4 hours
Nature's Ways: Lore, Legend, Fact and Fiction
By Ruth Binney
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
A fascinating collection of animal and plant truths, tales, and traditions from the author of Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: Royal Family Life.
Trying to understand the ways of the natural world has been a human preoccupation since the earliest times. The knowledge of which animals were helpful and which were dangerous, which plants had the power to heal and soothe and which to harm and kill was of obvious importance, not only to learn, but to remember and pass on.
It is therefore hardly surprising that from all corners of the earth, a wealth of stories, signs, symbols, myths and legends about animals and plants have been passed down to us. There are sound principles in some of the traditional advice, wisdom in many of the stories and observations of nature, but there are also highly fanciful superstitions, tall stories and amusing anecdotes. Ruth Binney has collected them all into this entertaining and fascinating volume.
There are intriguing tales of everything from mythical monsters and magical plants to domestic pets and humble weeds, as well as generations of advice, both sound and dubious, from age-old country remedies to predicting the weather through the observation of nature.
“Whether read from cover to cover in one sitting or dipped into from time to time, there is plenty here to entertain.” —Blackmore Vale Magazine
“This is the sort of book that you dip into merely intending to linger for a few minutes, only to find yourself staying for an hour.” —Dorset Magazine
Trying to understand the ways of the natural world has been a human preoccupation since the earliest times. The knowledge of which animals were helpful and which were dangerous, which plants had the power to heal and soothe and which to harm and kill was of obvious importance, not only to learn, but to remember and pass on.
It is therefore hardly surprising that from all corners of the earth, a wealth of stories, signs, symbols, myths and legends about animals and plants have been passed down to us. There are sound principles in some of the traditional advice, wisdom in many of the stories and observations of nature, but there are also highly fanciful superstitions, tall stories and amusing anecdotes. Ruth Binney has collected them all into this entertaining and fascinating volume.
There are intriguing tales of everything from mythical monsters and magical plants to domestic pets and humble weeds, as well as generations of advice, both sound and dubious, from age-old country remedies to predicting the weather through the observation of nature.
“Whether read from cover to cover in one sitting or dipped into from time to time, there is plenty here to entertain.” —Blackmore Vale Magazine
“This is the sort of book that you dip into merely intending to linger for a few minutes, only to find yourself staying for an hour.” —Dorset Magazine
Unavailable
Read more from Ruth Binney
Royal Family Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe English Countryside Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Word to the Wise: Traditional Advice and Old Country Ways Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Nature's Ways
Related ebooks
Totem Animals: Your Plain & Simple Guide to Finding, Connecting to, and Working with Your Animal Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMythical Beasts & Beings: A Visual Guide to the Creatures of Folklore Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mythical Zoo: Animals in Myth, Legend, and Literature Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Tales of a Clear, Dark Night: Literary Archeology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Midas Touch: World Mythology in Bite-sized Chunks Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Animal Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Magick of Faeries: Working with the Spirits of Nature Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Arokin Tales: Folklore, Fairy Tales and Legends From West Africa Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHaunted Northern California: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Golden State Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn Search of Nature Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Beavers of Popple's Pond: Sketches from the Life of an Honorary Rodent Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVesper Flights Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEmber of a New World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Healing Wisdom of Birds: An Everyday Guide to Their Spiritual Songs & Symbolism Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Witches' Almanac: Issue 32, Spring 2013 to Spring 2014: Wisdom of the Moon Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Adder's Fork and Lizard's Leg: The Lore and Mythology of Amphibians and Reptiles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFairies Plain & Simple: The Only Book You'll Ever Need Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Seasons of the Sacred Earth: Following the Old Ways on an Enchanted Homestead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Traces of an Omnivore Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIreland's Animals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zuni Folk Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDuergarbok: The Dwarves of the Northern Tradition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5THE ONE Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnimals: Personal Tales of Encounters with Spirit Animals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpiritual Companions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Enki Clan: The Jungle Trilogy, Volume 3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFairies: Real Encounters with Little People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Christian Animism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Nature For You
Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Forager's Handbook: A Seasonal Guide to Harvesting Wild, Edible & Medicinal Plants Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEncyclopedia of 5,000 Spells Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles: Learn How To Forage, Prepare & Eat 40 Wild Foods Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic Fungi: How Mushrooms Can Heal, Shift Consciousness, and Save the Planet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The God Delusion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Silent Spring Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ten Wild Herbs For Ten Modern Problems Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Under the Henfluence: Inside the World of Backyard Chickens and the People Who Love Them Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Kitchen Garden: An Inspired Collection of Garden Designs & 100 Seasonal Recipes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shelter: A Love Letter to Trees Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lucky Dog Lessons: From Renowned Expert Dog Trainer and Host of Lucky Dog: Reunions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5H Is for Hawk Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Foraging for Survival: Edible Wild Plants of North America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for Nature's Ways
Rating: 3.4285714285714284 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
7 ratings1 review
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A book about natural lore can take many shapes: A history (what ancients thought you could do with a particular herb). A natural herb guide ("willow bark contains painkillers like asperin"). An anti-science screed. A lot of superstition.This book has a little of each. The history of the use of herbs is truly fascinating, and most of it seems well-researched. The uses of herbal medicines -- it's not so clear. I'd love to see some scientific data to go with the other. And there is a little too much superstition for my taste.Your mix of interests may vary. This is a readable book. It rarely goes into much depth, but that means that it gives at least fleeting coverage to a wide range of topics. Is it the book of lore I would take if I were going to be stranded on a desert island alone? Probably not. But if I were stranded with a doctor who had a real medicine kit, and then wanted to know about some other plants and animals in the vicinity, this could be rather appealing.