This is the kind of book that you can randomly flip through and always find something interesting, and can read about customs and ideas that are totally different than one's own. The diversity among human beliefs is indeed amazing and is an indication that the human mind adapts and invents concepts that are very different depending on the situation in which individuals find themselves. On the other hand, there are common themes in all of these myths that point to the necessity for the employment of certain concepts that are universal. A gigantic book, it probably would only be read from cover to cover by those who intend to specialize in the study of mythology both from an anthropological and historical point of view. But it is fair to bet that anyone who opens this book will walk away with a deeper appreciation of all human cultures, wherever they may be, and at all levels of technological development.

Lack of space prohibits a detailed review of all the articles I read, but some of the more interesting entries that I ran across include: 1. "Ababinili". This is the name of the supreme being of the Chickasaw Indians, and the god of the fire apart from the Sun. This belief is an indication again that the concept of an ultimate being is pretty universal among all cultures. Apparently the Chickasaws believed that Ababinili caused a great flood also, although this fact is not discussed in this article. 2. "abdominal dance". An article discussing the origin of "belly dance", as it is called in some cultures. Interestingly, in some areas it was not done as a seductive movement or to provoke a sexual response. In Asia for example, it was symbolic of the pain of motherhood. 3. "African and New World Negro folklore". The author discusses the "Tortoise and the Hare" story which interestingly was held by some African peoples. He compares it with the European version, with the tortoise winning in both versions. However, in the African version, the tortoise wins by employing his wits. This "brains over brawn" version of this story is fascinating given the bias towards logical thinking in European culture. 4. "bagpipe". The origin of bagpipes goes back to the emperor Nero, who reportedly played it. Bagpipes were played by the Romans in their colonization of Britain. 5. "barber's pole". There was a time when barbers were also surgeons, thus the red and white strips on the pole: white for bandages to symbolize the healing process. 6. "chain tale". This is a folktale based on a series of numbers, characters, events, etc. Supposedly the game of chess originated in a chain tale involving numbers in geometric progression. The inventor requested in payment one grain of wheat for the first square, two for the second, four for the third, eight for the fourth, and so on. 7. "Dalai Lama". The Tibetian monk of highest rank, who is the incarnation of Avalokita, whose spirit passes into a child at the death of each Dalai Lama. 8. "euphemism". This came from the belief that if you speak of the Devil he will appear. Hence one must refer to him by another name: a euphemism. The origin of the name "Jehovah" was also such a euphemism, since uttering the name of the Hebrew god was forbidden. 9. "female rain". Among some North American Indian tribes, this is a soft, gentle rain; to be contrasted with a downpour, which is "male rain" (How then did hurricanes become to be name after women?). 10. "games". This is an excellent article, too long to summarize here. 11. "grateful dead". Folktake in which a hero runs into a group of people who are refusing to bury the corpse of a deadbeat man. The hero makes good the debts, and later is rewarded with happiness. 12. "holler". A spontaneous, improvised song by American slaves engaging in solitary work. Usually with no words, it was meant to keep oneself company. 13. "jack-o-lantern". In some legends, This is a phosphorescent light frequently observed above marshes. The author describes many more. 14. "kitchen gods". The thousands of paper images representing Tsao Chun, the Chinese god of the kitchen stove. 15. "looking tabu". The act of looking at a forbidden object or person will cause its loss. 16. "magical inpregnation". A child conceived via some act or circumstance which has no connection with fertilization. Very common in mythology, the author gives several very interesting examples. 17. "mending the jug". A folktale based on a task considered impossible and always associated with an impossible countertask. 18. "mnemonic device". This is an excellent article, too long to summarize here, of the strategies employed by different cultures to remember or recollect things. Particularly interesting was the use of them when no language or mathematical systems were in place. 19. "momentary gods". These, interestingly, are gods who exist only for a special purpose and for a limited time, and then only at special places. 20. "need fire". This was a ceremony wherein fire was made when livestock were threatened with plague. 21. "never-finished weaving". The Shawnee Indian tale of the female creator who weaves a basket which is unraveled every night. Finishing the job will cause the world's end. 22. "orchesis". The Greek word for dance, which was considered indispensable in Greek drama. 23. "orgia". The winter ritual dedicated to Dionysus, and involving after sometime to what the author describes as "unbridled, licentious mass intoxication". He describes similar types of ceromonies in the West Indies, Indian peyote cults, and in Mexico. 24. "overlooking". This is the act of one who casts the "evil eye", a belief that according to the author is world-wide and found from earliest times. 25. "paternity test". An infant magically picking out his unknown father. The author gives several different tests employed by many different cultures. 26. "primitive and folk art". A very long but excellent article on all kinds. 27."scalp dances". These were American Indian "victory" dances done around the enemies scalps. Apparently in some tribes the scalps were considered tabu and contained supernatural powers.

these books you must. I have read enough reviews here to know that people dole out 5 stars with impugnity (the ones that don't like certain books don't bother to look at other reviews of them) and realize that the rating system here is meaningless (not because of Amazon), but if you have ANY interest in the serious study of mythology, these books, edited by Maria Leach, are a necessity; look thru whatever foul paperbacks pretending to be concerned with mythology you own and notice they all reference this grand work, full of SCHOLARLY treatise on a vast array of subjects. And they are fantastic reading in sortes fashion; to just open randomly and read whatever your finger touches. Nuff said.

This reference work is not specific to any particular mythos, pantheon, or people, but encompasses beliefs of the entire world. If one wishes to be as general as fire, or as obscure as rakshasa, he will find what he is looking for: and if not, this will tell him he needs a resource more specific to what he is after.

I had this book as a kid and have always remembered it. I read it over and over again. The stories are still vivid in my mind as are the ghost tips at the end, such as when a dog or cat is staring at something, and you can't see anything. It is probably a ghost and if you look between their ears, you'll see the ghost, too.
The book "disappeared" from my parent's home years ago. It would be fun to read it again after all of these years. Best ghost story book ever.

One of the only books at a library I would indeed read when checked out I had to find it again. I paid a pretty penny for it but well worth it. Had to share it with my daughter. I love ghost stories and so does she. The thing at the foot of the bed is hilarious if told right. The milk bottles is sad and a sweet and true story along with the hitchhiker. Read them and then read them again. It's hard to grow tired of such good writing.

whistle in the graveyard is fantastic book i would love to
read it a second time or even a third. they are very good stories to tell at night time. I enjoyed reading them to my cousins and they got scared.I think its the best book ever because I love spooky stories.

I used to check this book out from my school library continually when I was in about 6th grade. It contains spine-tingling tales to read in the dark. Read about a cat with no eyes and the witch who uses them to see at night for hunting. Read about baba yaga, a creature who lives in a house with legs and eats children. Yikes!! You must read these stories.

I bought one copy of this book and then lent it to a friend who then decided he'd be luckier if he kept it. I pouted, but I spend so much time browsing bookstores that it was just a matter of time until I got hold of another copy. I've owned two copies of a book about luck that's been out of print for quite some time. Not only that, but I learned some awful good history on Harry Truman in the process. This book provides comprehensive insight on the subject of luck from a variety of perspectives. Very entertaining to read, and lucky to own.

Ever wanted to be one of those know-it-alls at parties with those great haughty insults and witty remarks?

Buy this book and never worry again. Definatly a good buy. Fun, Funny, and Educational (?). If you like Oscar Wilde, you'll like this book.

This small book is very big in biting power. It is a compilation of witty and revealing bits of Oscar Wilde's genius. If you don't want to sift through all Wilde's works, or the dog ate his books that you had in the basement, or maybe at your age you don't remember the fundamental lessons that you read about style, wit and life by this English gentleman THEN YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK.
A comprehensive little manual that will enable you to outwit your opponents and reach the epythome of the educated insult (which is very interesting because you will be able to start insulting your boss, without any consequences. Or maybe you will be promoted...)

Three Segments are Told in the Stories from the Works of Edgar Allan Poe. The Segments are:Morella-About a Dying Father (Vincent Price) and also His Dying Daughter (Maggie Pierce) trying to Make Peace until thier Ghostly Mother (Leona Gage) comes to Haunt Them. The Black Cat-About a Alhocolic (Peter Lorre), Who takes Revenge on his Adulterous Wife (Leona Gage) and Her Rich Lover (Vincent Price). The Last:The Cast of M.Valdemar-When a Dying Millionaire (Vincent Price), who wants the Best for his Beautiful Wife (Debra Paget) but When he died, but His Mind is Still Alive, a Greedy Doctor (Basil Rathbone) wants to use his Mind for His Own Amusement.

Directed by Roger Corman (The Intruder, Little Shop of Horrors-1960, The Raven) made an Uneven Anthology of Horror Stories but This Flick does have a Few Moments of Scared and the Tongue in Cheek Humor. The Movie does have a Terrific Score by Les Baxter and a Strong (Often Bizarre) Cinematography work by Floyd Crosby, also the Screenplay is by Novelist and Screenwriter:Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, Stir of Echoes) are One of the few High-Lights of this Cult Horror Classic. The Best Segment is:The Black Cat, Which is Funny and Bizarre Entertaining Story. Unrated but Equivalent to a PG-Rating for Brief Violence and Tense Situations. Panavision. Grade:B+.

Mention Roger Corman's 1962 "Tales of Terror" and you immediately think of Vincent Price teaming up with Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. But for me this film owes as much to writer Richard Matheson, who adapted four Poe stories into three film vignettes. "Morella" is another one of those dark family secret stories. The title character (Leona Gage) had died in childbirth 26 years before, cursing her baby daughter. When Leonora (Maggie Pierce) comes home suffering from a fatal disease, she discovers her father Locke (Price) has been keeping mom's mummified corpse in his bedroom. "The Black Cat" also works in elements of Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." Montressor Herringbone (Lorre) finds out his wfie Annabel (Joyce Jameson) is having an affair with Fortunato Lucresi (Price), a rather foppish wine connoisseur. Unexpectedly funny because of the comic performances of the two stars, the story is this sequence inspired Corman to make "The Raven." Finally, "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," an elderly man (Vindent) whose dying days have been eased in part because of a hypnotist, Carmichael (Rathbone), whos wants to hypnotize Valdemar at the moment of death. The experiemnt succeeds, after a fashion, but Carmichael refuses to release Valdemar until his wife Helene (Debra Paget) agrees to marry him.

"Tales of Terror" is noteworthy for two particular impacts it had on horror films. The first was the emergence of anthology films that followed in its wake, such as "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" and "Black Sabbath." The second was the revival of interest in former movie stars at American International, which would soon add Boris Karloff to their roster. The stand out segment of this film is certainly "The Black Cat," with Lorre and Price showing marvelous comic timing. Lorre takes such perverse glee in walling up his wife and Price, plus there is nothing like the macabre politeness of movie villains . There is something transcendent about watching these old Hollywood pros have fun with taking these roles so seriously, so to speak.

Being a fan of Vincent Price and Peter Lorre for that matter, this was just priceless (no pun intended). Aside from Peter Lorre not aging well at all, this just makes his "tale" all the more realistic.
The first tale is called Morella where Vincent Price blames his visiting daughter for the death of his wife. Yet there is a twist to the story regarding the daughter. Really well done.

The second tale is The Black Cat with Peter Lorre as the main character here in one of the best parts I've seen him play.
He puts pathetic, mean and humorous into one role and is hysterical doing the classic wine testing scene with Vincent Price. I was truly laughing out loud. The facial expressions that Price has in this one when acting with Lorre are worth this DVD alone.

The third and last tale is the scariest in my view. It is called the Case of M. Valdemar where Basil Rathbone plays a man who tries to gain control over a dying Vincent Price. This is a pretty scary one, and Rathbone completes his role nicely.

The ladies in these tales (Maggie Pierce, Joyce Jameson and Debra Paget) are all absolutely stunning. You just can't compare the beauty of that day with today.

Get this DVD, especially if you like Price and Lorre....not to mention Poe. I promise you it is something you will watch over and over again.