Series: Wooden Books

Were the Stones of Stenness the world's first henge and stone circle? Why has Orkney preserved so many Neolithic farmhouses and villages? What was the purpose of the huge buildings on the Ness of Brodgar? In this small book, painter Hector McDonnell introduces the history and the mystery of Orkney. Could the practice of making astronomical stone circles really have...

Do things always look smaller when they are further away? Can something be clearly visible but not there at all? Is it ever possible to have a direct and true experience of reality? Are you sure? In this delightful and informative little book, Perspective by Phoebe McNaughton, takes us on a classical journey through the history of artistic perspective, showing...

What is the difference between a ghost and a ghoul? How do you tell a good Jinn from a bad one? Where would you find a chimera or a manticore? What did Herodotus have to say about werewolves? In this enchanting little book, television producer and mythozoologist Tam O'Malley explores the rich world of mythological animals, from banshees to harpies,...

What is the secret meaning of alchemical symbolism? Why was the Royal Art kept secret for so long? Could ancient images really turn molten lead into gold with a mere pinch of the Philosopher's Stone? Really? Alchemy is perhaps the last true magical art to survive the ravages of the modern world. In this exquisite book, top laboratory alchemist Guy...

What's the difference between a cast shadow and a form shadow? Why do shadows become increasingly important in Western art? Can we only ever see shadows, not objects themselves, as Plato claimed? In this beautiful little book, printmaker and History of Art Professor William Vaughan presents the history of shadows, from their emergence in the visual arts to their association...

Is there a secret visual language all around us? What's so special about the shape of the Great Pyramid? Why is there something so sixy about circles? How many ways can you tile the plane? Lavishly illustrated by the author, this enchanting small introduction to one of the oldest and most widely-used ancient traditions on Earth will forever change the...

What makes a quark? How many quarks make a proton? How many protons make an oxygen atom? How many oxygen atoms make a carbon dioxide molecule? How many carbon atoms make you? In this accessible little book, packed with helpful diagrams and interesting information, science writer Matt Tweed takes us on a whirlwind tour into the tiny realms, the stuff...

What actually happens to you when you drink a cup of coffee? Is chocolate really an aphrodisiac? How do drugs like alcohol and cannabis work? Did psychedelics play a part in human evolution? In this fascinating little book, leading psychopharmacologist Dr. Ben Sessa describes the drugs, legal and illegal, natural and synthesised, from nicotine to endorphins, sugar to antidepressants, that...

Shhhhhhh ... Can you hear the ancient dryad wisdom of trees? Do you know how to calm the spirits of storm and wave? Can you see the elusive and intelligent souls of trees, stones, rivers, and clouds subtly infusing the world with magic, wonder, and meaning? Do you want to know more? In this beautiful book, illustrated throughout by faery...

Immensely popular in its original hardback, this new paperback edition is part of a new series of ancient traditions titles printed on recycled papers with no colours or glosses. The covers are matt and leathery, and already look old. The print is of the highest quality. Most simple herbs are covered, while herbs that can have side effects are omitted....

If many hands make light work, how can too many cooks spoil the broth? If you'll find the best advice on your pillow, are proverbs even useful? How come these nuggets of wisdom are so similar all over the world? In this compact book (knowledge takes up no space!), modern Irish painter Alice O'Neill takes a worldwide tour of more...

What was the golden secret known to Leonardo da Vinci, Kepler, Plato and the ancient magicians? Can there really be a key to nature and life itself? In this small but compact volume, internationally renowned divine proportion supersleuth Dr. Olsen unravels perhaps the greatest mystery of all time—a code that seems to underlie life, the universe, and everything—a pattern we...

What is the mysterious Qi of ancient Chinese science? How can the position of your front door affect your fortune? Are there really Dragons all around us? How do you use the enigmatic Luopan? In this concise and beautifully illustrated book, world-renowned Feng Shui Master Richard Creightmore uses a lifetime of experience to explain in clear and simple terms that...

What are fractals? Why are they such fun? How do you make one? Why is a dripping tap not as random as it seems? What is chaos? Is the Mandelbrot Set really the most complex object in mathematics? In this beautifully illustrated book, fractal-hunter Oliver Linton takes us on a fascinating journey into the mathematics of fractals and chaos, diving...

Our bodies are the only things we ever truly own, yet most of us haven't got a clue what they are made of and how they manage to grow, thrive and survive everything we chuck at them. In this delightful little book, the smallest of its kind ever produced, Dr Betts tells the incredible story of the human body, and...

How do you divide a line into three? Or five? Or seven? Is there a simple way to marry harmony and geometry? What is the secret diagram alluded to by writers of antiquity? In this groundbreaking book, philosopher Adam Tetlow reveals the long lost Helicon, the master diagram of the ancient arts and crafts. Watch in astonishment as this magical...

The crop circles that appear in British fields on short summer nights have quickly become the most famous works of modern art on Earth. Perfectly conceived, priceless, and expertly crafted by artists unknown, the formations are an environmental triumph - the highest form of spin in art. This small volume, by architect, inventor, and world-famous crop circle commentator Michael Glickman,...

Equations are the magical invocations of millions of modern mathemagicians. Have you ever needed one fast? Circles. Triangles. Spaceships. Mechanics. Trigonometry. Statistics. Areas. Liquids. Gases. Fireworks. Calculus. Fields. Dimensions. Matrices. Constants. Circuits. Probabilities. Gears. More. Mathematician Matthew Watkins and illustrator Matt Tweed have compressed almost every familiar equation from mathematics and physics into one tiny book. Useful Math & Physical...

What is the difference between literal and figurative writing? Is there really a secret set of tricks used by top authors to make their writing even better? Why not use these tricks all the time? This excellent little book, by English literature and creative writing tutor Amy Jones, provides a vital introduction to the essential literary devices used by writers...

Why are dragons recognised in almost all cultures on Earth? What is the mysterious geomantic gold they secretly guard? Could dragons be a folk memory of something which once hunted us? In this beautiful little book, Little History of Dragons, Joyce Hargreaves tells the story of these extraordinary animals through examples drawn from all over the world. Richly illustrated, and...

Who is the Hermit? And the High Priestess? What is the Fool's Journey? How does Tarot reveal your place in the Wheel of Fortune? Can a deck of cards really help you understand who you are? In this dense little book, packed with antique illustrations and worked examples, author Natalie Labriola reveals the ancient magic of the Tarot, introducing us...

What is the secret code behind so many musical compositions? How do you substitute chords to create greater musical complexity? Why is music so good at playing with people's emotions? In this compact book, composer and pianist Jason Martineau presents the elements of music in clear and comprehensible terms. Packed with superb diagrams and a wealth of fascinating, hard-to-come-by musical...

What is the difference between ratio and proportion? When is a harmonic rectangle also geometric? Do pentagons, hexagons and heptagons really each have their own characters? Is there a secret to great art? In this beautiful little book, art educator Michael Schneider presents a groundbreaking synthesis of proportion in the ancient world. From temples to dinner plates, paintings to pots,...

How many days are there between full moons—think you know? Is there an ancient key to the calendar hidden in stone circles? What is the magical secret of the Sun-Moon-Earth system? If you have ever wondered about eclipses, tides, or the seasons, this amazing little book by acknowledged time-lord Robin Heath will quickly introduce you to the astonishing beauty of...

What is the difference between an amulet and a charm? When would be the right time to make a talisman? And, if you absolutely had to, how would you cast a spell? In this unique little book, scholar Marian Green unravels the complex web of associations and correspondences which form the backbone of the Western magical arts. Packed with rare...

What is the difference between an echo and a reverberation? How do you calculate the best note to whistle in a toilet? Where do you best place microphones for that perfect recording? In this fascinating little book, musician Steve Marshall explores the subject of acoustics. From decibels to dolphins, stereo to surround, Acoustics will appeal to singers, musicians, architects, biologists,...

Have you ever seen a pixie? Really? How about a nixie? Where would you find a brownie? And who exactly is Puck? Hiding in the woods, meadows, lakes, and caves of these green and pleasant lands are a multitude of little-studied folk who have evaded the coarse eyes and lenses of modern naturalists for years. Join Paul Johnson and Dan...

Why do some books grab you from the very first line? What did Aristotle have to say about the art of telling stories? Is there a secret structure to stories known by all the best writers? In this neat pocket book, English lecturer Amy Jones describes the clever narrative scaffolds used for thousands of years by novelists and scriptwriters. With...

How do I know I am the same person I was yesterday? What will happen if I die tonight? Do you see exactly the same colours that I see? What is it like to be a bat? Imagine, and what if...? In this book, philosopher Alec Thompson describes the techniques used by the world's top thinkers and creatives, from Seneca...

A beautiful and useful handbook on the Golden Section—also known as the Golden Ratio and Golden Mean—a perfect gift book. The Golden Section is a line segment divided into two parts, such that the ratio of the short portion to the longer portion is equal to the ratio of the longer portion to the whole. It is one of the...