The author of Pipers at the Gates of Dawn interviews worshipers, philosophers, historians, and psychologists worldwide to understand the tenacity and influence of the Ur myth of death and regeneration. 30,000 first printing. $30,000 ad/promo.
My favorite (sometimes least favorite) part of used books/library loans is the marginalia, in this case, someone who used a color-changing "mood" pencil to underline "Horus grows up and eventually conquers chaos," "all winged creatures live forever," "a living metaphor for what is the deepest creative impulse in ourselves," and "when you feel you're stuck in a place of terrible tension, between a rock and a hard place, that's the very moment something magical can come through." And then in ballpoint pen some later reader who underlined "control of their finances" like who invited this square?!?
My favorite thing about this book is it is entirely a space for folks with different types of expertise around the Isis & Osiris story. Each contributor brings something different and that is a priceless way to learn about any topic-- cause there is no ONE angle by which some one comes to know all about something. I learned a lot here and I don't feel that many other approaches could have given what this book does for any one interested or fascinated by the Isis & Osiris myth.