“Part travelogue, part literary history, and part spiritual journey . . . His quest to find Han Shan’s cave is a delight from beginning to end.”—Chase Twichell, author of Horses Where the Answers Should Have Been In this transformative book, award-winning poet and essayist James Lenfestey makes an epic journey across the world to find the Cold Mountain Cave, a location long believed to exist only in myths and the ancient home of his idol, Han Shan, author of the Cold Mountain poems. Lenfestey’s voyage takes him from the Midwestern United States to Tokyo to a road trip across the expanse of China with frequent excursions to the country’s rich historical and cultural landmarks. As he makes his way to the cave, Lenfestey learns more than history or geography; he discovers his identity as a writer and a poet. Interspersed with poems by both the author and Han Shan, Seeking the Cave will appeal to lovers of poetry and travel narrative alike. “A lively account of Lenfestey’s trip to China . . . It unites our brief literary life with the ancient richness of Chinese culture.”—Robert Bly, New York Times bestselling author “A profound, and profoundly personal book. It’s very captivating, warm and friendly, personal, unguarded, idiosyncratic, pointed but also finally apolitical, and eminently charming.”—Gary Snyder, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet “His lighthearted approach, poet’s attention to detail and genuine passion for the poems of Han-shan bring the narrative far beyond essential archetypes of the Far East.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune “[A] poetry-infused memoir . . . The story of his outer and inner journeys is frank, charming, funny, moving and wise.”—Greenfield Recorder

A quote that reminds us that following our bliss takes courage. The sleek minimalist design features the look of recycled paper on the cover with black text.Also available with a dark gray (nearly black)background. This blank lined notebook highlights the phrase: The Cave You Fear To Enter Holds The Treasure You Seek. ~ Joseph Campbell Product Details: 6x9 inch, convenient, portable size, (small enough to slip into a bag, purse, or briefcase) Lightly ruled (dark enough to see but light enough to allow your writing to take precedence) 108 cream-colored pages (so much easier on the eyes) Practical no nonsense design will compliment any environment (desk, coffee table, etc.) Matte finish cover gives the book a pleasant feel A fun composition book to: Jot down your brilliant or not so brilliant ideas Take meeting or class notes Make to do lists Map out the master plan Keep track of TV shows, movies, plays, events Explore life's possibilities, etc. Whether it is used to take notes, doodle or just vent frustrations, it doesn't matter. This versatile little book by Artful Cites Notebooks has unlimited uses. A wonderful and thoughtful gift for anyone on your list or you could just buy one for yourself - We'll never tell.

Shortlisted for the Tratman Award 2015 To enter caves is to venture beyond the realm of the everyday. From huge vaulted caverns to impassable, water-filled passages; from the karst topography of Guilin in China to the lava tubes of Hawaii; from tiny remote pilgrimage sites to massive tourism enterprises, caves are places of mystery. Dark spaces that remain largely unexplored, caves are astonishing wonders of nature and habitats for exotic flora and fauna. This book investigates the natural and cultural history of caves and considers the roles caves have played in the human imagination and experience of the natural world. It explores the long history of the human fascination with caves, across countries and continents, examining their dual role as spaces of both wonder and fear. It tells the tales of the adventurers who pioneered the science of caves and those of the explorers and cave-divers still searching for new, unmapped routes deep into the earth. This book explores the lure of the subterranean world by examining caving and cave tourism and by looking to the mythology, literature, and art of caves. This lavishly illustrated book will appeal to general readers and experts alike interested in the ecology and use of caves, or the extraordinary artistic responses earth’s dark recesses have evoked over the centuries.

"Rooted in passion, desire, sensuality, and the 'shared heat' of love . . . An absolute joy to read." -ROBERT HEDIN

1819. Iax Agolasky, a young assistant to a notable French explorer, sets off on a journey to the Russian wilderness. They soon discover a group of creatures living in a cave: children with animal traits. But are they animals, or are they human? Faced with questions of faith, science and the fundamentals of truth, tensions rise in the camp. Soon the children's safety becomes threatened and Agolasky needs to act. The novel is based on the photo series and synopsis by Pekka Nikrus. Why Peirene chose to publish this book: Greek legends, fables and fairy tales all share an interest in mythical beings. In this book Sammalkorpi imagines what would happen if these creatures really existed. How would we respond? The answer to this question matters hugely. It determines what it means to be human. 'A truly enjoyable read with its beautiful and precise language.' Savonia prize jury 'One of the most ambitious works of this year. A novel that deals with what it means to be human and the associated ethical and moral questions.' Kuvastaja prize jury

The definitive sequel to New York Times bestseller How the Scots Invented the Modern World is a magisterial account of how the two greatest thinkers of the ancient world, Plato and Aristotle, laid the foundations of Western culture—and how their rivalry shaped the essential features of our culture down to the present day. Plato came from a wealthy, connected Athenian family and lived a comfortable upper-class lifestyle until he met an odd little man named Socrates, who showed him a new world of ideas and ideals. Socrates taught Plato that a man must use reason to attain wisdom, and that the life of a lover of wisdom, a philosopher, was the pinnacle of achievement. Plato dedicated himself to living that ideal and went on to create a school, his famed Academy, to teach others the path to enlightenment through contemplation. However, the same Academy that spread Plato’s teachings also fostered his greatest rival. Born to a family of Greek physicians, Aristotle had learned early on the value of observation and hands-on experience. Rather than rely on pure contemplation, he insisted that the truest path to knowledge is through empirical discovery and exploration of the world around us. Aristotle, Plato’s most brilliant pupil, thus settled on a philosophy very different from his instructor’s and launched a rivalry with profound effects on Western culture. The two men disagreed on the fundamental purpose of the philosophy. For Plato, the image of the cave summed up man’s destined path, emerging from the darkness of material existence to the light of a higher and more spiritual truth. Aristotle thought otherwise. Instead of rising above mundane reality, he insisted, the philosopher’s job is to explain how the real world works, and how we can find our place in it. Aristotle set up a school in Athens to rival Plato’s Academy: the Lyceum. The competition that ensued between the two schools, and between Plato and Aristotle, set the world on an intellectual adventure that lasted through the Middle Ages and Renaissance and that still continues today. From Martin Luther (who named Aristotle the third great enemy of true religion, after the devil and the Pope) to Karl Marx (whose utopian views rival Plato’s), heroes and villains of history have been inspired and incensed by these two master philosophers—but never outside their influence. Accessible, riveting, and eloquently written, The Cave and the Light provides a stunning new perspective on the Western world, certain to open eyes and stir debate. Praise for The Cave and the Light “A sweeping intellectual history viewed through two ancient Greek lenses . . . breezy and enthusiastic but resting on a sturdy rock of research.”—Kirkus Reviews “Examining mathematics, politics, theology, and architecture, the book demonstrates the continuing relevance of the ancient world.”—Publishers Weekly “A fabulous way to understand over two millennia of history, all in one book.”—Library Journal “Entertaining and often illuminating.”—The Wall Street Journal

A baby bat explores the cave he lives in, discovering the other creatures who live there and the important role that bats play in providing food for them.