"A gem of a book . . . of use to both beginning and seasoned ethnographers, as well as to anyone who wants to improve his or her writing about social life." —Elizabeth Fine, Journal of Folklore ResearchAnton Chekhov is revered as a boldly innovative playwright and short story writer—but he wrote more than just plays and stories. In Alive in the Writing—an intriguing hybrid of writing guide, biography, and literary analysis—anthropologist and noveli...

Exploring family stories reveals the rich history of a seventh-century Buddhist shrine.As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the "Vishwakarma cave." Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by ...

Kirin Narayan’s imagination was captured the very first time that, as a girl visiting the Himalayas, she heard Kangra women join their voices together in song. Returning as an anthropologist, she became fascinated by how they spoke of singing as a form of enrichment, bringing feelings of accomplishment, companionship, happiness, and even good health—all benefits of the “everyday creativity” she explores in this book. Part ethnography, part musical discovery, part poetry, part memoir, and p...

In 1969, young Kirin Narayan’s older brother, Rahoul, announced that he was quitting school and leaving home to seek enlightenment with a guru. From boyhood, his restless creativity had continually surprised his family, but his departure shook up everyone— especially Kirin, who adored her high-spirited, charismatic brother.A touching, funny, and always affectionate memoir, My Family and Other Saints traces the reverberations of Rahoul's spiritual journey through the entire...

Creativity and play erupt in the most solemn of everyday worlds as individuals reshape traditional forms in the light of changing historical circumstances. In this lively volume, fourteen distinguished anthropologists explore the life of creativity in social life across the globe and within the study of ethnography itself. Contributors include Barbara A. Babcock, Edward M. Bruner, James W. Fernandez, Don Handelman, Smadar Lavie, José E. Limon, Barbara Myerhoff, Kirin Naray...

How do you live a life of spiritual awakening as well as outer abundance, inner freedom as well as deep intimacy? How do you serve the world selflessly, yet passionately celebrate your life?The sages of Tantra have known for centuries that when you follow the path of Shakti—the sacred feminine principle personified by the goddesses of yoga—these gifts can manifest spontaneously. Yet most of us, women as well as men, have yet to experience the full potential of our inner feminine ene...

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE PEN TRANSLATION PRIZE*An unfulfilled college student hurtles through four parallel realities to explore the what-might've-been and the what-should-never-be in this Groundhog Day meets The Midnight Library–esque time loop novel from one of Japan’s most popular authors.Our protagonist, an unnamed junior at a prestigious university in Kyoto, is on the verge of dropping out. After rebelling against the dictatorial jock pres...

Because words can no more hold the truth than a net can hold water, we use koans. Koans are sayings, or doings, of Zen masters, the patriarchs and Buddha. Take for example the koan: The Sound of One Hand clapping. In its entirety it reads: "You know the sound of two hands clapping. What is the sound of one hand clapping?" The obvious, intellectual answer is, No sound at all! But then what is this No sound? In other words, is it just silence?If one is to work on this koan, indeed on ...

The story of one man's journey from his youth in suburban Chicago to an adult in spiritual India and a world of mystics, yogis, and gurus.Within this extraordinary memoir, Radhanath Swami weaves a colorful tapestry of adventure, mysticism, and love. Readers follow Richard Slavin from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of the Himalayas as he transforms from young seeker to renowned spiritual guide. The Journey Home is an intimate account of the steps to sel...

FROM TOP 15 NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR SELENA KITTOVER ONE MILLION BOOKS SOLD!------------------WANT MORE SELENA KITT?website: http://www.selenakitt.comfacebook: http://www.facebook.com/selenakitttwitter: http://www.twitter.com/selenakitt @selenakittblog: http://www.selenakitt.com/blogGet ALL FIVE of Selena Kitt’s FREE READSby joining her mailing l...

Tucked away in the eastern end of the Himalayas lies Bhutan: a tiny, landlocked country bordering China, India, and Nepal. One of the most remote places in the world, Bhutan is rich in natural beauty, exotic landscapes, and ancient wisdom, where people are genuinely happy with very few material possessions and the government embraces "Gross National Happiness" instead of Gross National Product.As one of the few Americans to have lived in Bhutan, Linda Leami...

It was the uniform which did it. When med student Beth takes a job at a pricey restaurant she cringes at how sexy and revealing the uniform is. But the big tips would be worth it. She is startled at how turned on she becomes, parading around in such a scanty outfit around so many high powered men. When a sexy and outrageous Englishman takes notice she quickly finds her control slipping. The next thing she knows, against every instinct she ever thought she had, she's letting him control her...