My Review and Thoughts:
The World of Lore is an absolutely awesome book. I am a huge fan of the Lore Podcast and the TV series on Amazon. When this book came out I was super excited because I love all things Folk Lore and myths and legends, and this book did not let me down. It’s another wonderful trip into the world that Aaron Mahnke has created so well with his Podcast. This book is equal parts creepy as hell and equal parts informative history.
If you know me then you know I am a huge history buff. What better way to learn about History than to learn about the darker side of history and all it’s strange and weird realities. From Life and Death. Vampires, Zombies, Elf’s and creatures of all kinds run rampant in this book of mystery. A wonderful mix of non-fiction in the idea that many of these strange happenings mentioned in this book can’t be explained. One can not just simply say: “Oh it’s old Wise tells.” It’s not that easy. Whole cultures of people in the past and even in the present live there lives around believing in things of the dark, or the mysterious, and of the deeper hidden realities in the shadows. From real life people experiencing unexplained ordeals, to cultures worshipping or giving offerings to things only imagination can fathom.
From Invisible creatures, to Goblins and Gremlins and Creatures of the night. To the, all to real idea of making someone a living Zombie. Everything and more that is great about Folk Lore is in this book.
This is rich, enriched book of wonderment and nightmares come to life on page. Told in away with smirks at times, a little spark of humor and then told in times of real life hair raising creepiness.
Aaron Mahnke is a brilliant soul that discovers the past and the present and gives other worldly realities a new life. This book is a brilliant reality of storytelling. He captures the beauty of folk lore and mystery and the unknown, in a graphic detail; a storybook telling that shines in perfect clarity. Aaron Mahnke is the new story teller. He is the folklorist of the modern times. He brings that old wonderful camp fire setting back to reality. He brings that old village story teller to a modern generation. In the past, before the printing press and even after it, villages, towns, cities always had certain persons that could weave a good tale.
A person that people would go to, to be frightened and entertained, that is what Aaron Mahnke is and has ultimately achieved with The World of Lore. His Podcasts, his TV series and now this book has created a modern storytelling of the unexplained history of cultures of the past and even the present. For all his wonderment in bringing to life the old tales of mystery, I praise him for that.
History must be told. To forget History no matter how strange or weird or unbelievable it might be, it still is history and should never be forgotten. Tales of the unknown frighten us, entertain us, give us nightmares, bring us together around a camp fire or a library to explore our past in all it’s strange and weird moments. Aaron Mahnke has taken an old story telling reality and created a modern setting. He has brought the world of make belief and folk lore, myths, legends to a whole new light of perfection and clarity.
To be honest there was times reading this book, I had to pause and even put it down for a while because in spots it was thoroughly creeping me out. I read in the dark with a book light and so that added to it's darkened freak out appeal.
I did something really interesting with this read. I held the book and read it, and listened to the audio book at the same time. The audio book is narrated by the author which is another awesome aspect to the audiobook. Following along with the narration and the words on page gave it another plus in my book. I really liked reading along with Aaron Mahnke.
This is one of my new favorite books. The World of Lore is a priceless book of storytelling that creeps you out, entertains you, gives you knowledge and educates and explores the realities of cultures.
Would I Return to Again? Absolutely. I have already reread certain chapters. It’s a book that will be read by me many times. It’s one of those books you want to return to repeatedly.
Would I Recommend: Absolutely. Everyone needs this book. History buffs. Folk lore buffs. Those who like the strange. Anyone who loves to be entertain will love this book.
Pages: 320
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Four Words: Informative. Spooky. Creepy Perfection.