The Myths of the New World

A careful, conversational exploration of humanity’s earliest attempts to name the divine, this work invites listeners to step beyond the usual academic jargon and consider why creation stories, flood legends, and symbols such as birds or serpents appear in cultures across the globe. By focusing on the belief systems of the peoples of the Americas, the author shows how these “natural religions” arise from the human mind’s innate yearning for meaning.

Drawing on a wide array of indigenous groups—from the Algonkin and Iroquois to the Maya and the Caribs—the narrative traces common patterns in language, mythic numbers, and ritual. It argues that despite vast geographical separations, these societies share strikingly similar ideas about the soul, the after‑world, and the forces that shape existence, suggesting a deep unity within the human species.

The book balances scholarly insight with accessible prose, making the study of ancient myth feel like a lively conversation about what it means to be human. Listeners will come away with a richer appreciation of how early mythologies reflect universal questions that still resonate today.