This British/American journalist wanders the globe in search of cultures and practices that are both ancient and endangered. The ten here included are: ancient musical instruments of the Malian empire; Scandinavian coastline night watchmen; Incan bridge builders using plant fibres in Peru; pasta production on an Italian island using ancient techniques; mirror production in India; painting film billboards in Taiwan; informing bees of family developments in England; the only democratic job in Cuba (reading to cigar workers); making special soy sauce on a Japanese island; and mail sevice to an oak tree in Germany to facilitate romance.
There is a lot of history included in these stories, and a lot of folklore and mythology. Some of the practices cannot be justified as worth preserving in a threatened world; others are just silly. My favourite was the talking to bees as part of the family, as I grew up with a beekeeper next door, and they are indeed fascinating, but they certainly don’t hear our stories.
No one recommended this book to me but the title was intriguing. However much of it is really not worth reading.
2.5/5
The Passionate Reader 