Named one of the Best Books of 2023 by the New Yorker and The New York Times' Dwight Garner “The first comprehensive biography of this hipster magus . . . [John Szwed] allows different sides of Smith’s personality to catch blades of sun. He brings the right mixture of reverence and comic incredulity to his task.” —Dwight Garner, The New York Times Grammy Award–winning music scholar and celebrated biographer John Szwed presents the first biography of Harry Smith, the brilliant eccentric who transformed twentieth century art and culture. He was an anthropologist, filmmaker, painter, folklorist, mystic, and walking encyclopedia. He taught Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe about the occult, swapped drugs with Timothy Leary, had a front-row seat to a young Thelonious Monk, lived with (and tortured) Allen Ginsberg, was admired by Susan Sontag, and was one of the first artists funded by Guggenheim Foundation. He was always broke, generally intoxicated, compulsively irascible, and unimpeachably authentic. Harry Smith was, in the words of Robert Frank, “the only person I met in my life that transcended everything.” In Cosmic Scholar, the Grammy Award-winning music scholar and celebrated biographer John Szwed patches together, for the first time, the life of one of the twentieth century’s most overlooked cultural figures. From his time recording the customs of Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Florida to his life in Greenwich Village in its heyday, Smith was consumed by an unceasing desire to create a unified theory of culture. He was an insatiable creator and collector, responsible for the influential Anthology of American Folk Music and several pioneering experimental films, but was also an insufferable and destructive eccentric who was unable to survive in regular society, or keep himself healthy or sober. Exhaustively researched, energetically told, and complete with a trove of images, Cosmic Scholar is a feat of biographical restoration and the long overdue canonization of an American icon. Includes black-and-white and color images

More than half of American adults and more than seventy-five percent of young Americans believe in intelligent extraterrestrial life. This level of belief rivals that of belief in God. American Cosmic examines the mechanisms at work behind the thriving belief system in extraterrestrial life, a system that is changing and even supplanting traditional religions. Over the course of a six-year ethnographic study, D.W. Pasulka interviewed successful and influential scientists, professionals, and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who believe in extraterrestrial intelligence, thereby disproving the common misconception that only fringe members of society believe in UFOs. She argues that widespread belief in aliens is due to a number of factors including their ubiquity in modern media like The X-Files, which can influence memory, and the believability lent to that media by the search for planets that might support life. American Cosmic explores the intriguing question of how people interpret unexplainable experiences, and argues that the media is replacing religion as a cultural authority that offers believers answers about non-human intelligent life.

Embark on a soul-stirring odyssey through the sacred pages of "The Savior's Journey," a poignant and illuminating exploration of the life of Jesus Christ. This meticulously crafted book unfolds like a tapestry, weaving together the threads of divinity and humanity, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the transformative journey of the Savior. From the hallowed echoes of Bethlehem's manger to the profound teachings resonating across the hills of Galilee, each chapter unfurls the narrative of a life that transcends time. Delve into the wisdom of parables, witness the miracles that defy earthly bounds, and join the crowds who sought solace in the presence of a compassionate healer. As the pages turn, the poignant relationships that shaped Jesus' path come to life—the camaraderie of disciples, the tender exchanges with Mary Magdalene, and the divine connections that define his purpose. "The Savior's Journey" invites readers to witness the profound humanity of a figure whose impact has reverberated through centuries. This book does not shy away from the trials that marked Jesus' destiny—the poignant Last Supper, the harrowing betrayal, and the sacrificial crucifixion that echoed through the hills of Golgotha. In each chapter, the narrative captures the essence of a life lived with purpose, love, and an unwavering commitment to a divine mission. "The Savior's Journey" transcends the boundaries of time and space, presenting a masterful blend of historical accuracy and poignant storytelling. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of Jesus Christ, exploring themes of faith, redemption, and the eternal significance of a life that continues to inspire and guide countless souls. Immerse yourself in the pages of "The Savior's Journey," and discover anew the timeless and universal truths that illuminate the path of the one who proclaimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

Considered by many to be a founder of Afrofuturism, Sun Ra—aka Herman Blount—was a composer, keyboardist, bandleader, philosopher, entrepreneur, poet, and self-proclaimed extraterrestrial from Saturn. He recorded over 200 albums with his Arkestra, which, dressed in Egypto-space costumes, played everything from boogie-woogie and swing to fusion and free jazz. John Szwed's Space is the Place is the definitive biography of this musical polymath, who was one of the twentieth century's greatest avant-garde artists and intellectuals. Charting the whole of Sun Ra's life and career, Szwed outlines how after years in Chicago as a blues and swing band pianist, Sun Ra set out in the 1950s to impart his views about the galaxy, black people, and spiritual matters by performing music with the Arkestra that was as vital and innovative as it was mercurial and confounding. Szwed's readers—whether they are just discovering Sun Ra or are among the legion of poets, artists, intellectuals, and musicians who consider him a spiritual godfather—will find that, indeed, space is the place.

Theologian Harry Lee Poe and chemist Jimmy H. Davis argue that God's interaction with our world is a possibility affirmed equally by the Bible and the contemporary scientific record. Rather than confirming that the cosmos is closed to the actions of the divine, advancing scientific knowledge seems to indicate that the nature of the universe is actually open to the unique type of divine activity portrayed in the Bible.

The classic science fiction trilogy by the author of The Chronicles of Narnia at last available in a new A-format boxed set The Cosmic Trilogy is a remarkable work of fantasy, demonstrating yet again the powerful imagination of C.S Lewis. OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET Dr Ransom, a Cambridge academic, is abducted and taken on a spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra, which he knows as Mars. His captors are plotting to plunder the planet's treasures and plan to offer Ransom as a sacrifice to the creatures who live there. Ransom discovers he has come from the 'silent planet' -- Earth -- whose tragic story is known throughout the universe...PERELANDRA Dr Ransom is called to the paradise planet of Perelandra, or Venus, which turns out to be a beautiful Eden-like world. He is horrified to find that his old enemy, Dr Weston, has also arrived and is putting him in grave peril once more. As the mad Weston's body is taken over by the forces of evil, Ransom engages in a desperate struggle to save the innocence of Perelandra...T decapitated head, Jane Studdock sees the same face in a newspaper and has the growing feeling that she is being warned of something real and ominous. Meanwhile, her husband Mark has been enticed to join the National Institute for Co-ordinated Experiments, which aims to control human society. As he is drawn into the sinister organization, he discovers the truth about his wife's dreams, while she seeks helps at a community called St Anne's, led by the charismatic Dr Ransom...