If this is Your Land, where are Your Stories?: Finding Common Ground“We need to understand our stories because our lives depend upon it.” -- Ted Chamberlin The stories we tell each other reflect and shape our deepest feelings. Stories help us live our lives -- and are at the heart of our current conflicts. We love and hate because of them; we make homes for ourselves and drive others out on the basis of ancient tales. As Ted Chamberlin vividly reveals, we are both connected by them and separated by their different truths. Whether Jew or Arab, black or white, Muslim or Christian, Catholic or Protestant, man or woman, our stories hold us in thrall and hold others at bay. Like the work of Joseph Campbell and Bruce Chatwin, this vital, engrossing book offers a new way to understand the hold that stories and songs have on us, and a new sense of the urgency of doing so. Drawing on his own experience in many fields -- as scholar and storyteller, witness among native peoples and across cultures -- Ted Chamberlin takes us on a journey through the tales of different peoples, from North America to Africa and Jamaica. Beautifully written, with insight and deep understanding, If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories? examines why it is now more important than ever to attend to what others are saying in their stories and myths -- and what we are saying about ourselves. Only then will we understand why they have such power over us. From the Hardcover edition. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 33
Page 67
... way one might harness horses or oxen — which become , like the river , no
less themselves for being made useful to humans . In this image , the Columbia
becomes a useful river , like the Nile ; but it remains a great river , also like the
Nile .
... way one might harness horses or oxen — which become , like the river , no
less themselves for being made useful to humans . In this image , the Columbia
becomes a useful river , like the Nile ; but it remains a great river , also like the
Nile .
Page 115
Suddenly , and only for a moment , the legendary king becomes human ,
becomes mortal . It is a moment of human clarity and of limitation . It is also a
moment of mystery , and limitlessness . It is a moment that has analogues in
every tradition ...
Suddenly , and only for a moment , the legendary king becomes human ,
becomes mortal . It is a moment of human clarity and of limitation . It is also a
moment of mystery , and limitlessness . It is a moment that has analogues in
every tradition ...
Page 205
Cusanus observed that as the distance from the centre of a circle gets larger , the
curve of its circumference gets smaller . . . and smaller . . . and smaller . . . until
eventually it becomes a straight line , and the circle becomes a square . But we ...
Cusanus observed that as the distance from the centre of a circle gets larger , the
curve of its circumference gets smaller . . . and smaller . . . and smaller . . . until
eventually it becomes a straight line , and the circle becomes a square . But we ...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
LOSING | 74 |
REALITY AND THE IMAGINATION | 94 |
Copyright | |
6 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories?: Finding Common Ground J. Edward Chamberlin Limited preview - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
aboriginal American Americas asked Australia become beginning believe bring called century ceremony choice civilized claim comes contradiction course cowboys cultures death described dream English fact faith father feel Gitksan give hand happen heart hold horses human hundred idea imagination important Indian John kind knew land language later listen live look meaning metaphor mind mountains move native natural Navajo never North once poem poet question reality recognize remark represented rhymes river sacred seemed sense settlers side sing society sometimes sounds speak spirits stories and songs storytellers strange talking tell things thought told traditions translated true truth turned understand West wonder write written
Bibliographic information
| Title | If this is Your Land, where are Your Stories?: Finding Common Ground |
| Author | J. Edward Chamberlin |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Vintage Canada, 2004 |
| ISBN | 0676974929, 9780676974928 |
| Length | 271 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Modern / General Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural & Social Social Science / Customs & Traditions Social Science / General Social Science / Sociology / Marriage & Family |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |