Superstitions: 1,013 of the World's Wackiest Myths, Fables & Old Wives Tales

by Deborah Murrell

An entertaining, light-hearted approach to over 1,000 superstitions? this book uncovers the complexity and sometimes ridiculousness of human nature and behavior through the ages.

Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky? Why do we knock on wood? Why do we cross our fingers for good lucky? It may not be logical, but underlying these irrational notions are centuries of beliefs?and many affect us still. In fact the most important aspects of people?s lives have been influenced by their superstitions both at work and at home particularly?their health, marriage, children, and prosperity. Superstitions is a chock-full compendium of more than 1,000 of the world?s most common folklore beliefs.

For centuries people have been changing their behavior to bring themselves good luck and it is believed that some people perform better when they follow personal rituals. This informative and thoroughly amusing reference will give you all the answers to how many long-standing, long-believed superstitions actually came about. Written in a clear, accessible manner and extensively researched, this illustrated, entertaining reference guide brings us the most compelling superstitions, plus provides the fascinating answers to the geographical, religious, and social origins of these often bizarre beliefs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Research

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2008

About the author

Deborah Murrell has worked in publishing as both a writer and editor for more than 20 years. She has written about the middle ages as well as ancient times, and produced a CD-ROM on ancient cultures.

Reviews

[Jennifer Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am now afraid to leave the house ever without 5 hours of bizarre rituals and sleeping with onion slices, pints of milk and a lock of my enemie's hair under my bed. Not much different than daily life now!

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book overall, however, there were a few times when the author repeated superstition stories/explanations but worded the repeats differently. I'm also not sure what the source was that said that the Romans believed in the devil.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book although some of the information was written twice.

[Emily Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting enough, but SO MANY TYPOS!! It got really distracting, although maybe that's just my English-major nerdy brain. Also there were some superstitions that were thrown in there two or three times in different chapters.

[Marjanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essentially this is an encyclopedia of superstitions. There were some interesting things, and, naturally, some overlap.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Repeated itself a lot and didn't seem too forthcoming with references for its sources, but entertaining for the interested.

[Vidula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good for just a little fact book, although some things just got awkward...

[Ladyacct · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy stuff, but also some things that are interesting and fun.