July: The Month of the Moon

July marks a few very important anniversaries for those interested in space and the stars: the launch of Apollo 11 (July 16, 1969), the first manned moon landing (July 20, 1969), and 56 years ago next week, the founding of NASA (July 29, 1958). In honor of these awe-inspiring and amazing achievements, Cosimo is highlighting some of our interstellar titles.

Footage from the Apollo 11 moonwalk that was partially restored in 2009 (from NASA)

From the Earth to the Moon and Round the Moon by Jules Verne 

This is the first story of space exploration and remains a beloved work of daring exploits, and surprisingly accurate scientific conjecture. When the members of the Baltimore Gun Club decide to fill their time by embarking on a project to shoot themselves to the moon, the race is on to raise money, overcome engineering challenges, and convince detractors that they're anything but "Lunatics." First published in France in 1865, this 1918 replica edition includes the 1870's sequel Round the Moon. 

The Ways of the Planets by Martha Evans Martin

This 1912 volume is as much a love letter to the night sky as it is a compendium of the state of astronomical knowledge at the turn of the 20th century, and so it remains a lovely read for those who understand the romance of scientific inquiry. The observational advice of this little book is still entirely useful-its tips for finding Mercury, Mars, and Venus by the naked eye are clear and concise-but even more vitally, its ponderings on the beauty of the planets manage still, a century later, to bring us Earthlings a little closer to those distant worlds. 

History of the Planetary Systems from Thales to Kepler by J.L.E. Dreyer 

More than a century after its first publication in English, J.L.E. Dreyer's classic work remains a helpful and readable introduction to historical astronomy. Beginning with mankind's first attempts to understand its place in the universe and continuing through the age of Isaac Newton, Dreyer rectifies errors and sets the historical record straight, connecting modern astronomers to those who laid the groundwork before them. This work covers: the earliest cosmological ideas, the Pythagorean school, Plato and Aristotle, the Ptolemaic system, Oriental astronomers, the revival of astronomy in Europe, and much more. 

The Story of the Stars by George F. Chambers

Though our knowledge of the heavens has increased astronomically (pun intended) since 1895, when this primer on skywatching was first published, this work, with its Victorian charm and poetical bent that will remind readers of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, remains a treat for fans of the night sky. Chambers has an equally pleasant approach to the hard science of his day-from a simple explanation of how the study of the stars is connected to the terrestrial science of geography, his ponderings on the meanings of "temporary stars," to an exploration of the stars in verse, from Shakespeare to Tennyson, this book has it all.

Celebrate this month by watching an interactive recreation, find some cosmos inspired redecorating ideas, reading about the above topics, or simply watching the stars go by in the moonlight.

For more titles on space, exploration, and the stars, please visit Cosimo's astronomy page or our astrology page.

Series of the Month: The Literary Digest History of the World War

This summer is the centennial anniversary of the start of World War I, one which had everlasting effects on the world and its people. Throughout the period of 1914-1918, soldiers and correspondents from America, Britain, France, Germany, and others delivered ample reports from the front-lines; unlike anything society or mass media had previously known. Although most of the original publications were subjected to censorship, after the cessation of hostilities the original journals were published from their sources, such as in The Literary Digest History of the World War, a replica of the 1919 edition, is a series broken into ten illustrated volumes, curated by journalist Francis W. Halsey from journals and reports by correspondents.

The books include original maps, and illustrations illuminating readers a century later on the realities of the Great War. The series begin detailing the Western Front June 1914 and ends with the final navel battles and peace treaty in May 1920.  This series will appeal to World War I buffs, historians, and students of journalism. 

About the Author

Francis W. Halsey (October 15, 1851 – November 24, 1919) was an American journalist, editor of the New York Times, and historian from Unadilla, New York. He was the compiler and editor of his major achievement, The Literary Digest History of the World War, a series which gives an astonishing perspective on the Great War. Publication began within a year after the Peace Treaty of Versailles and Halsey died while working on the final volume.  

Cosimo offers this 10 volume series by individual volume at leading online bookstores or as a full set in hardcover or paperback, especially of interest to readers of history, collectors who'd like to expand their personal library, or professional librarians. If you are interested in purchasing the full set, please contact us.

The hardcover retail list price for this series: $339.90 but now: our price: $269.99 (you save $70 or a 20% discount!)
The paperback retail list price for this series: $131.90 but now: our price: $104.99 (you save $27 or a 20% discount!)

July Organization of the Month: IONS

Cosimo is excited to announce the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) as our Organization of the Month for July.

IONS was founded in 1973 by Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell, (co-author of Psychic Exploration) and offers education and outreach to help support individual and collective transformation. This nonprofit also conducts and collaborates on leading-edge research into the potentials and powers of consciousness, exploring phenomena that do not necessarily fit into conventional scientific models while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor.

The Institute’s primary program areas are consciousness and healing, extended human capacities, and emerging worldviews. For a list of upcoming events and workshops, please visit the Noetic events page.

Psychic Exploration: A Challenge for Science, Understanding the Nature and Power of Consciousness is a primer on psychic research, life's purpose, and the meaning of the universe. Edgar D. Mitchell, not only an astronaut but also a distinguished researcher of the study of human consciousness, brought together eminent scientists to write about issues once considered too controversial to discuss. This book includes fascinating chapters on the history of parapsychology, telepathy, hauntings, psychic phenomena, and consciousness, along with an extensive glossary and index. This timeless anthology continues to be appealing as a reference work for those curious about the history of parapsychology, fans of the world of psi, and readers interested in the meaning of the universe. Contributors include leading scholars: Willis W. Harman, Jean Houston, Stanley Krippner, Robert Masters, William G. Roll, Russell Targ, Charles T. Tart, Montague Ullman, and many more. Originally published in 1974, Cosimo is proud to announce that a portion of the proceeds of the republished edition of Psychic Exploration goes towards IONS.

"The Grounded 2" Premiere

Featuring IONSs founder Edgar Mitchell, "The Grounded 2" (sequel to "The Grounded"), will premiere at the Contact in the Desert Conference on August 9th at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. In both documentary films, you can see the Grounding phenomenon transform the life of people, plants, and animals who were sick or struggling with health issues. The film discusses why and how all living beings should be in natural contact with the Earth. 

Save the Date

IONS 16th International Conference, titled "The Science of Being, The Spirit of Community," will take place in Oak Brook, IL from July 22 to 26, 2014. For more information, please visit the conference page.

Cosimo B2B 
Cosimo B2B is Cosimo's services unit, that offers publishing services to organizations such as IONS and others, who would like to present books to a worldwide readership and enhance their brand name. We welcome those organizations and institutions that are aligned with Cosimo's mission of creating a smarter and more sustainable society by connecting people with valuable ideas. If your organization wants to know more about the benefits of publishing with us or having its own imprint set up by us, please visit our private imprint page.

July Classic of the Month: The Great Illusion by Sir Norman Angell

Cosimo is happy to announce our July Classic of the Month, The Great Illusion by Sir Norman Angell.


First published in 1909, The Great Illusion sets out to answer one of the greatest questions in human history: Why is there war? Specifically, Angell wishes to discuss why there is war between the countries of Europe, which seem to always be at one another's throats. Angell refutes the belief that military power results in greater wealth and instead proposes that advanced economies based on trade and contract law can only generate value in the absence of military upset. War destroys any wealth that conquerors may have wanted to obtain, making the whole enterprise pointless. A deep understanding of this would, then, end the need for war. Perfect for those readers immersing themselves in war classics for the 100th year anniversary of World War I.


About the Author
British journalist and politician Sir Ralph Norman Angell (1872-1967) was an executive for the World Committee against War and Fascism and a member of the executive committee of the League of Nations Union. Knighted in 1931, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1933. From 1905 to 1912, he was the Paris editor for the Daily Mail, and served as a Labour MP from 1929 to 1931. He is also the author of Peace Theories and the Balkan War and The Fruits of Victory.

Cosimo is proud to offer both paperback and hardcover editions of The Great Illusion at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback, hardcover), and Amazon (paperback, hardcover).

July Book of the Month: Psychic Exploration with Edgar D. Mitchell

This month Cosimo presents Psychic Exploration, A Challenge for Science, as our July Book of the Month. 

Published originally in 1974, it is considered a cornerstone to psychic research, life’s purpose, and the meaning of the universe. This book was compiled by Edgar D. Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, edited by John White with a host of renowned scientists covering consciousness, parapsychology, and telepathy like Willis W. Harman, Jean Houston, Stanley Krippner, Robert Masters, William G. Roll, Russell Targ, Charles T. Tart, Montague Ullman, and more. This reprint edition contains a new introduction by Dean Radin, senior scientist with IONS, and Marilyn Schlitz, former IONS president.  

The plethora of topics organized into a nearly thirty chapter anthology, continues to be as timeless as its initiator Edgar D. Mitchell.   


About the Author
Edgar D. Mitchell is the founder of IONS, The Instituteof Noetic Sciences, a former Apollo astronaut, and a Navy Captain. Among his many degrees are four honorary doctorates and a ScD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT.  In July we remember Apollo 11, and all Apollo missions, as America celebrates the 45^th anniversary of, “One giant leap for mankind.”

Cosimo is proud to offer an affordable paperback edition of Psychic Exploration at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback and eBook), and Amazon (eBook and paperback).

Happy Independence Day from Cosimo

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, the day the United States became independent from Britain. In celebration of the  Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers, and the struggles and bravery of those who came before us, Cosimo is highlighting some great titles about the holiday. In between fireworks, cookouts, family reunions, and baseball games, relax with one of these great books.

The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. II by Thomas Jefferson

The works in this volume take place during the years 1771 to 1779, which include the drafts of numerous bills, correspondence to George Washington, notes on rules for the Continental Congress, as well as many drafts of the Declaration of Independence.

The Constitution of the United States and Other Historical American Documents

Presented in this book are the three founding documents of the United States and another that altered and divided the Union for a brief moment in history: The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, United States Constitution, and Constitution of the Confederate States. Together, these four documents offer a firsthand perspective on the political history of the United States.

John Adams, Vol.1  by John Quincy Adams

One of the most complete biographies ever written about an American president, this is a remarkable effort examining the life and career of the great Revolutionary leader and the second man to take the oath of office, John Adams. This volume covers everything from Adams's school days up to his landmark term in the Congress of 1774 straight through to the advent of the Declaration of Independence.




For a complete list of American history titles published by Cosimo, please visit our website.


Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Cosimo!

July 2nd is World UFO Day

Tomorrow, July 2nd is World UFO day, a day dedicated to the existence of Unidentified Flying Objects. Whether you'd like to find others to compare sightings with, find new friends to watch UFO themed movies, or simply spend the evening star gazing in a group, this day has activities for you!


The first World UFO Day was celebrated in 2001. For more information about World UFO Day, news and research on UFOS, or  UFO organizations and events near you, please visit World UFO Day.

If you would like to spend your World UFO Day reading about everything unidentified, unexplained, or unanswered, Cosimo has just the books for you. Cosimo offers a wide array of rare and hard-to-find UFO books with titles like Flying Saucers over the White House: The Inside Story of Captain Edward J. Ruppelt and His Official U.S. Airforce Investigation of UFOs by Colin Bennett, Left at East Gate: A First-Hand Account of the Rendlesham Forest UFO Incident, Its Cover-up, and Investigation by Larry Warren, Hair of the Alien: DNA and Other Forensic Evidence of Alien Abductions by Bill Chalker, and Body Snatchers in the Desert: The Horrible Truth at the Heart of the Roswell Story by Nick Redfern.

What do you think about UFOs? The Economist magazine just issued a tongue-in-cheek article "Everything You Need to Know About UFOs"  referring to reports by the National UFO Reporting Centre, a non-profit, that has catalogued almost 90,000 reported sightings of UFOs since 1974, stating: "It turns out that aliens are considerate. They seldom disturb earthlings during working or sleeping hours. Rather, they tend to arrive in the evening, especially on Fridays, when folks are sitting on the front porch nursing their fourth beer, the better to appreciate flashing lights in the heavens (see chart). The state aliens like best is Washington—a finding that pre-dates the legalisation of pot there. Other popular destinations are also near the Canadian border, where the Northern lights are sometimes visible. UFOs tend to shun big cities, where there are lots of other lights, and daylight hours, when people might think they were just aeroplanes."

Whether you agree with this skeptical view of The Economist, or just want to honor World UFO Day, scan the night skies tonight for any unidentified flying objects, and judge for yourself.


For a complete list, please browse all of our UFO titles here. You can also visit our website dedicated solely to UFOs and UFO titles at ufobookshelf.com.