Tuesday, December 24, 2019

December Quote of the Month: 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse"

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse"
— Clement Clarke Moore, 1837

Just in time for holiday celebrations, all of us at Cosimo are very excited to announce our Quote of the Month!

The Night Before Christmas, originally published as A Visit from St. Nicholas on December 23, 1823, in the Troy Sentinel, became America's favorite Christmas poem. After the poem was published anonymously, it was attributed to Clement Clark Moore in 1837. However, scholars have debated the identity of the author of this poem and some believe it was written by Henry Livingston, Jr., (1748-1828), a New York farmer who also wrote poetry.

The Night Before Christmas has had a great influence on the American notion of Santa Claus and on its tradition of Christmas gift-giving, which, before the poem, had been inspired by the Dutch figure of St. Nicholas. This unique edition of the famed Christmas poem, features the original engravings, from 1849, by T.C. Boyd.

This American classic is a great gift for the Christmas season as well as for collectors of traditional American literature.





Thursday, December 19, 2019

Little Women in Theaters this Month!

It is one of the most beloved novels in the English language, and its protagonists among the best friends a reader can have. Louisa May Alcott's Little Women—inspired by her own childhood with three sisters in Concord, Massachusetts—is the simple, elegant tale of tomboy Jo March, who strains against the limitations of women of her time, and dependable Meg, compassionate Beth, and spoiled Amy.

Their childhood adventures and squabbles as well as their adult romances and travels continue to enthrall and delight readers a century and a half after the novel was first published, and have inspired stage plays, comic books, and countless film adaptations. 

The next adaptation of Little Women will be out next week! Releasing December 25th, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, and Meryl Streep. Watch the trailer below!






To read more books by or about Louisa May Alcott, visit our site here.  Happy reading!










Tuesday, December 17, 2019

December Series of the Month: The Complete Works of Charles Dickens

With Christmas right around the corner, it's inevitable that Scrooge and Oliver Twist will be popping up on everyone's television. However, Charles Dickens' fascinating works are truest in their original form — books. This month, Cosimo is excited to present The Complete Works of Charles Dickens as our December Series of the Month.

Charles Dickens is iconic, legendary, and masterfully clever. In these thirty beautiful volumes, which include each and every work written by Charles Dickens, readers can immerse themselves in the mind of one of history's most celebrated literary geniuses. He is entirely responsible for the popular image of Victorian London that still lingers today, and his many celebrated characters are mentioned time and time again. But it was his stirring portraits and his fervent cries for social, moral, and legal justice for the working poor in the grim early decades of the Industrial Revolution that powerfully impacted social concerns well into the 20th century.

This essential collector's set will excite librarians, professors, students of literature, and the passionate reader. Cosimo offers this series by individual volume at leading online bookstores or as a full 30-volume set in hardcover or paperback. If you are interested in purchasing the full set, please contact us.

The paperback retail list price for this series is: $389.70 but now our price is: $311.99 (you save $77.71 or a 20 percent discount) and free shipping.

The hardcover retail list price for this series is: $899.70, but now our price is: $719.99 (you save $179.71 or a 20 percent discount) and free shipping.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

December Classic of the Month: The Night Before Christmas: A Visit from St. Nicholas

It wouldn't be December without a Visit from St. Nicholas!

The Night Before Christmas, originally published as A Visit from St. Nicholas on December 23, 1823, in the Troy Sentinel, became America's favorite Christmas poem. After the poem was published anonymously, it was attributed to Clement Clark Moore in 1837. However, scholars have debated the identity of the author of this poem and some believe it was written by Henry Livingston, Jr., (1748-1828), a New York farmer who also wrote poetry.

The Night Before Christmas has had a great influence on the American notion of Santa Claus and on its tradition of Christmas gift-giving, which, before the poem, had been inspired by the Dutch figure of St. Nicholas. This unique edition of the famed Christmas poem, features the original engravings, from 1849, by T.C. Boyd.

This American classic is a great gift for the Christmas season as well as for collectors of traditional American literature.



Tuesday, December 10, 2019

December Book of the Month: The Joy of Ritual by Barbara Biziou

December is upon us and we are getting into the holiday spirit! Prepare for Christmas and Hanukkah by reading our Book of the Month, The Joy of Ritual by Barbara Biziou.

Ritual is a universal language that gives substance and meaning to our lives. People are eager to honor the significant moments in their lives and Barbara Biziou, one of America's foremost ritual experts, teaches us how to restore ritual to its rightful place as food for the soul through practical, easy-to-use ritual recipes that are inspiring and fun.

Rituals can enhance daily routines, enrich milestones, and guide us through difficult transitions. Whether you're releasing fear, bringing deeper meaning to a family or community gathering, or celebrating an important event, The Joy of Ritual is like a wise best friend that reconnects us to our hearts and souls.

About the Author
Barbara Biziou is an interfaith minister, motivational speaker, and a life-strategy coach. She is the author of The Joy of Ritual & The Joy of Family Rituals, as well as a Huffington Post blogger, executive consultant, dynamic public speaker, and national TV personality. Biziou has a deep commitment to integrating practical spirituality into people's lives, both personally and professionally. She is a frequent guest on radio and television and has appeared in the New York Times, Body and Soul, Harper's Bazaar and Parent's Magazine.

Cosimo offers this title in paperback at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, and also as an eBook.









Thursday, November 28, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Cosimo!

Let Cosimo help you prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with these classic cookbooks and household guides!



Old Time Recipes, originally published in 1909, is a descriptive, charming cookbook for those who want to make their own wines and liqueurs from any and all available ingredients, including fruits, flowers, vegetables, and shrubs. It includes an introduction from the author and the ingredients and instructions for making and fermenting your own spirits, from wine and ale to sherry, brandy, cordials, and even soda. Not only is this book interesting for those who want access to recipes from the old country, it's also good for those looking for a laugh: cock ale, cowslip wine, koumiss (a tartar wine that uses fresh mare's milk), and elephant's milk recipes are all included.


Mrs. Beeton's Cookery Book and Household Guide by Isabella Mary Beeton

Isabella Mary Beeton was the 19th century's Martha Stewart, and she is responsible for organizing the rules of domestic life into the first easy-to-follow guide. Eminently browsable and still highly useful today, Beeton's tome is a masterly compendium of practical information, and covers such essential topics as: recipes of cooking all manner of meat, fish, vegetable, pudding, and pastry; hints on the proper arrangement of a functional kitchen; ideas for table decorations (including the correct way to fold napkins); tips for carving poultry; charts on the seasons and prices (in the 1800s, of course) of all manner of edibles; and much more.




The Cook's Oracle by William Kitchiner

Care for a bit of Colcannon? Craving some Winter Hotch-Potch? Wishing for Wow-Wow Sauce? This newly released edition of The Cook's Oracle is an exact replica of Dr. Kitchiner's original book first published in 1829. A bestseller in its day, Kitchiner's fundamentals of 19th-century cookery cover the gamut from meat & fish to gravies & sauces to puddings & pies, including many of his favorite "receipts." Interestingly enough, he toured with a moveable taste cabinet; a folding cupboard stocked his unique mustards and sauces. And, unlike most food writers of the era, he whipped up the recipes himself, carried out the dreaded after-dinner clean up, and did all his own housework! A marvelous culinary artifact of 19th-century cookery, this book is certain to delight both social historians and food-lovers alike.



National Cookery Book: America's First Cook Book by Elizabeth D. Gillespie

Compiled in honor of the American centennial in 1876 and consisting of recipes solicited from American women all over this country, this 1876 work is the best reflection we have today of how and what Americans ate in the mid 19th century. But this isn't just a vital work of culinary history—it's also bound to make you hungry for the hearty fare it promotes. Renowned for its extensive selection of recipes for cooking game (venison, rabbit, and game birds were staples of the American diet at the time), but instructions for preparing them became hard to find after game fell out of favor. This book also includes such delicious-sounding dishes as: New Orleans Gumbo Soup, Barbecued Fish, Oyster Omelet, Beefsteak Pie, Squabs in Olives, General Washington's Breakfast Cake, and Sweet Potato Pudding.



Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Cosimo!














Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Happy Birthday to C.S. Lewis!

In honor of his birthday on November 29th, we are showcasing Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics by C.S. Lewis!

C. S. Lewis is a profound and perhaps the most respected Christian apologist because his belief was so hard-won. This collection of verse, written immediately after he returned from the battlefields of World War I in 1919, offers penetrating insight into the psyche of a young man struggling with traumatic wartime experiences and the crisis of faith they engendered. 

By turns angry, bitter, and melancholy, these poems constitute a provocative document of Lewis's journey from atheism through agnosticism and on to conviction.

About the Author
Irish writer Clive Staples ("Jack") Lewis (1898-1963) was born in Belfast. A volunteer in the British Army during World War I, he served in the trenches of France, and returned to study and teach at Oxford University; he later accepted a post at Cambridge University, retiring only months before his death. His best-known works are The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956), Mere Christianity (1952), and his autobiography, Surprised by Joy (1955).

Thursday, November 21, 2019

November Quote of the Month: "I stated that President Kennedy was shot at least once, and Oswald could not have been a 'lone gun-man'."

"I stated that President Kennedy was shot at least once, and Oswald could not have been a 'lone gun-man'."
- Charles Crenshaw, 2001

This November, we are presenting Trauma Room One: The JFK Medical Coverup Exposed by Charles A. Crenshaw with a foreword by Oliver Stone, as our Quote of the Month.

In this gripping account, Dr. Charles Crenshaw, one of the several Dallas surgeons who worked on JFK in Trauma Room One, shares what really happened within those walls.

In November of 1963, the doctors who tried to save President John F. Kennedy at Parkland Hospital agreed---either out of respect or fear---not to publish what they have seen, heard, or felt. But in 1990, Charles Crenshaw stepped forward and decided that the American people ought to know the truth.

In 1992, when the first edition of this book was published under JFK: Conspiracy of SilenceCrenshaw revealed what he never had the opportunity to tell the Warren CommissionCrenshaw states, "The wounds to Kennedy's head and throat that I examined were caused by bullets that struck him from the front, not the back, as the public has been lead to believe."

Shortly after publication, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) called Crenshaw's book a fabrication. But in court, the claim did not hold up, and Crenshaw subsequently prevailed in a defamation suit against JAMA. In the process, a number of new medical disclosures have emerged on the startling medical cover-up of the JFK assassination.

Cosimo offers this title in both hardcover and paperback at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, as well as in eBook format.








Tuesday, November 19, 2019

November Book of the Month: Trauma Room One by Charles A. Crenshaw

This November, we are presenting Trauma Room One: The JFK Medical Coverup Exposed by Charles A. Crenshaw with a foreword by Oliver Stone, as our Book of the Month.

In this gripping account, Dr. Charles Crenshaw, one of the several Dallas surgeons who worked on JFK in Trauma Room One, shares what really happened within those walls.

In November of 1963, the doctors who tried to save President John F. Kennedy at Parkland Hospital agreed---either out of respect or fear---not to publish what they have seen, heard, or felt. But in 1990, Charles Crenshaw stepped forward and decided that the American people ought to know the truth.

In 1992, when the first edition of this book was published under JFK: Conspiracy of SilenceCrenshaw revealed what he never had the opportunity to tell the Warren CommissionCrenshaw states, "The wounds to Kennedy's head and throat that I examined were caused by bullets that struck him from the front, not the back, as the public has been lead to believe."

Shortly after publication, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) called Crenshaw's book a fabrication. But in court, the claim did not hold up, and Crenshaw subsequently prevailed in a defamation suit against JAMA. In the process, a number of new medical disclosures have emerged on the startling medical cover-up of the JFK assassination.

Cosimo offers this title in both hardcover and paperback at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, as well as in eBook format.







Tuesday, November 12, 2019

November Series of the Month: Makers of History

In honor of Jacob Abbott's birthday, we here at Cosimo are proud to announce Makers of History as our November series of the month.

Abraham Lincoln raved that this series of historical biographies gave him "just that knowledge of past men and events which I need. I have read them with the greatest interest. To them I am indebted for about all the historical knowledge I have." 

Considered what we would now call "young adult" literature, this 31-volume collection, first published between 1848 and 1871, was designed to present a clear, distinct, connected narrative of the lives of the great figures of world history, those people who have been most influential, at least as American author and educator Jacob Abbott saw it from his 19th-century perspective. Wildly popular and republished many times under different collected names, this replica set mimics the 1904 reprint known as the "Makers of History" series. It will delight students of history as well as show the scholar how history telling has changed over the last few centuries. It is a must for many to read, as George Santayana once said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Cosimo offers this 31 volume series by individual volume at leading online bookstores or as a full set in hardcover or paperback, especially of interest to historians, collectors, who like to expand their personal library, or professional librarians. If you are interested in purchasing the full set, please contact us.

Discover the history of:

  • King Alfred of England
  • Cyrus the Great
  • Julius Caesar
  • Maria Antoinette
  • Hannibal, the Carthaginian
  • Mary, Queen of Scots
  • Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt
  • and many, many more!

The hardcover retail list price for this series is: $869.68, but now our price is: $699.99 (you save $170 or a 20 percent discount)

The paperback retail list price for this series is: $511.68, but now our price is: $399.99 (you save $112 or a 22 percent discount)

Thursday, October 24, 2019

October Quote of the Month: "Loren Coleman has taken a hard look at one of America’s most haunting monsters and discovered that it’s more terrifying than we ever knew."


"Loren Coleman has taken a hard look at one of America’s most haunting monsters and discovered that it’s more terrifying than we ever knew."
—Richard Hatem, screenwriter, The Mothman Prophecies

Our October Quote of the Month is so spooky, it refers to not one, but two books! Mothman and Other Curious Encounters and Mothman: Evil Incarnate, both by Loren Coleman, are our featured titles for this month's quote from Richard Hatem.

On November 15, 1966, a huge, red-eyed creature with wings appeared over Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Thus began thirteen months of otherworldly mystery, madness, and mayhem for the people of Point Pleasant, culminating in the collapse of the Silver Bridge, which left 46 dead.

But contrary to popular belief, Mothman is not a one-off phenomenon. Leading cryptozoologist and investigator Loren Coleman looks at the precursors of Mothman, like the Flatwoods Monster of 1952, then brings the story up to date, detailing the sightings of the spawn of Mothman at the beginning of this century. Coleman also examines the impact on investigations into the unknown by John Keel, the newsman who spend a year in Point Pleasant looking into the Mothman story and lived to write about it.

Mothman: Evil Incarnate, by cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, is the new companion title to the late John Keel's The Mothman Prophecies (1975), which investigated the sightings of a winged creature called Mothman and became popularized in the 2002 movie of the same name starring Richard Gere.

With new material by Loren Coleman, extensive annotations on each chapter of The Mothman Prophecies, a detailed Mothman death list, and a gallery of images, Mothman: Evil Incarnate comprises the most up-to-date information on Mothman phenomena. In addition to providing context to John Keel's cult classic, Coleman expands on missing details from the movie, explores the deaths that followed the West Virginia incident, describes the recent Chicago Mothman sightings, and delves into the life of John Keel. This companion book should find its place on every Mothman aficionado and cryptozoology fan's bookshelf. The mystery continues!

About the Author
Loren Coleman is one of the world's leading crypozoologists. In 1960 he started his fieldwork, and after years pursuing cryptozoological mysteries, he began writing. He is the author of numerous books on cryptozoology, including Bigfoot: The True Story of Apes in America and Mothman and Other Curious Encounters. Coleman is the founder and director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine (www.cryptozoologymuseum.com). Loren Coleman can be followed on Twitter at @CryptoLoren and on his blog, www.cryptozoonews.com


Tuesday, October 22, 2019

October Classic of the Month: The Book of Werewolves by Sabine Baring-Gould

The perfect book to read while you wait for the ghouls and ghosts of your neighborhood to say "Trick-or-Treat!" is our Classic of the Month, The Book of Werewolves written by Sabine Baring-Gould and intro by Loren Coleman.

Among Baring-Gould's foremost folkloric studies is his 1865 work, The Book of Werewolves, the first serious academic study of the shape-shifters of mythological lore. 

"This work is the most frequently cited early study of lycanthropy and is regarded by most scholars as the foundation work in the field," says cryptozoologist Loren Coleman in his new introduction. "The Book of Werewolves was so visionary that it foresaw that future discussions within werewolf studies would necessarily travel down many side paths. Indeed, midway through The Book of Werewolves, Baring-Gould treks into the shadowy world of crimes vaguely connected to werewolves, including serial murders, grave desecration, and cannibalism." 

This edition, complete with the original illustrations, is part of Cosimo's Loren Coleman Presents series (paperback and hardcover), a collection of ground-breaking cryptozoology titles on everything from dragons to sea serpents. Cosimo Classics is proud to offer this title in both hardcover and paperback at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback, hardcover) and Amazon (paperbackhardcover).













Thursday, October 17, 2019

October Series of the Month: Loren Coleman Presents Cryptozoology Classics

We are highlighting our very popular Loren Coleman Presents Series as our Series of the Month, so break out the spooky costumes, scary stories, and all things that go bump in the night — it's October!

Loren Coleman one of the world's leading cryptozoologists,  has been seeking evidence and folklore since the Abominable Snowmen caught his interest more than five decades ago. 

Loren Coleman has selected some of the most fascinating and also rare books from the time when the term 'cryptozoology" did not yet exist. This series brings to light some of the curiosities and wonders from zoology but also from myths and folklore. Coleman provides each title with a reflective introduction explaining the context and meaning of each of those significant works of cryptozoology. From werewolves to dragons, from sea monsters to unexplained myths, Coleman explores it all.


The series includes the following titles, both in paperback and hardcover:

Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life by Ivan Anderson

Curious Creatures in Zoology  by John Ashton

Curiosities of Natural History (in four volumes)by Francis Buckland

Dragons and Dragons Lore by Ernest Ingersoll

Gleanings From the Natural History of the Ancients by Rev. Morgan Watkins

Mythical Monsters by Charles Gould

Natural History, Lore and Legend by Frederick Hulme

Oddities: A Book of Unexplained Facts by R.T. Gould

Sea Fables Explained by Henry Lee

Sea Monsters Unmasked by Henry Lee

Snakes: Curiosities and Wonders of Serpent Life by Catherine Hopley

The Book of Werewolves by Sabine Baring-Gould

The Dragon, Image and Demon by Hampden DuBose

The Dragon in China and Japan by M.W. de Visser

The Great Sea Serpent by A.C. Oudemans

The Romance of Natural History by Philip Gosse

The Unicorn: A Mythological Investigation by Robert Brown

The Werewolf by Montague Summers

Thunderbirds: America's Living Legends of Giant Birds by Mark Hall



About Loren Coleman
Today, Loren Coleman, as one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, is an honorary member of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, a life member of the International Society of Cryptozoology, and an inaugural inductee of the Roger Patterson Memorial Bigfoot Museum in Portland, Oregon. He travels extensively for fieldwork and lectures and writes a daily blog at the Internet’s most popular cryptozoology news site, Cryptomundo. Coleman is the director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.



Cosimo offers this series by individual volume at leading online bookstores or as a volume set in hardcover and paperback. If you are interested in purchasing the full set, please contact us.

Our special set price for this unique series in hardcover is $499.99 (from the combined official list price of $668.82you save $168.83 or a 25 percent discount and you get free shipping)

Our special set price for this unique series in paperback is: $249.99 (from the combined official list price of $332.79: you save $82.80 or a 25 percent discount and get free shipping)

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

October Book of the Month: Mothman: Evil Incarnate by Loren Coleman

What better way to ring in Halloween than with our Book of the Month, Mothman: Evil Incarnate by Loren Coleman!

Mothman: Evil Incarnate, by cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, is the recent companion title to the late John Keel's The Mothman Prophecies (1975), which investigated the sightings of a winged creature called Mothman and became popularized in the 2002 movie of the same name starring Richard Gere.

With new material by Loren Coleman, extensive annotations on each chapter of The Mothman Prophecies, a detailed Mothman death list, and a gallery of images, Mothman: Evil Incarnate comprises the most up-to-date information on Mothman phenomena. In addition to providing context to John Keel's cult classic, Coleman expands on missing details from the movie, explores the deaths that followed the West Virginia incident, describes the recent Chicago Mothman sightings, and delves into the life of John Keel. This companion book should find its place on every Mothman aficionado and cryptozoology fan's bookshelf. The mystery continues!

About the Author
Loren Coleman is one of the world's leading crypozoologists. In 1960 he started his fieldwork, and after years pursuing cryptozoological mysteries, he began writing. He is the author of numerous books on cryptozoology, including Bigfoot: The True Story of Apes in America and Mothman and Other Curious Encounters. Coleman is the founder and director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine (www.cryptozoologymuseum.com). Loren Coleman can be followed on Twitter at @CryptoLoren and on his blog, www.cryptozoonews.com


Thursday, October 10, 2019

Learn More about the Life and History of Christopher Columbus

Celebrate Columbus Day (or Indigenous Peoples Day as some people prefer to call it these days) by learning more about the explorer Christopher Columbus, with these Classics from Cosimo and decide for yourself how controversial he was.


Inspired by the then-recent unearthing of original documents and letters of Christopher Columbus, the American writer Washington Irving set about, in the 1820s, to create the first unlimited and complete account of the great explorer and his journeys. This is that account, sweeping in its scope, as intimate as a novel, as thrilling as a grand adventure story. Originally written in two volumes but presented here in a combined edition, The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus tells of Columbus' three journeys to the New World, shipwrecks and mutinies, encounters with natives, and his establishment of military outposts in the Americas. With a dedication to historical accuracy combined with a flair for engaging storytelling, Irving bestows upon us one of the classic works of history of the Age of Exploration. 



As a follow-up to his History of Columbus, this 1831 work by Washington Irving details the voyages of the men who accompanied Columbus and followed in his wake, fulfilling his dream of further exploring the land he had encountered. The dashing tales of Alonzo de Ojeda, Vincente Pinzon, Diego de Nicuesa, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa are presented here for readers as both historical records and adventurous entertainment. History buffs will be delighted to learn about the lives of these important explorers.



Life of Columbus by Arthur Helps

The Life of Columbus has been called the cornerstone of the history of the American continent. The first issue of this edition, which appeared in 1910, vividly recreates the moral and intellectual atmosphere of Columbus's world. A lasting biography of thoughtfulness and scope, it encompasses Columbus's formative years including his life in Spain and a fascinating account of his earliest voyages of discovery. In addition, Sir Arthur Helps examines Columbus's role as the courageous "Discoverer of America" in light of his devoted and unwavering support of the Catholic Church in Spain and its flourishing influence in the Americas.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

September Quote of the Month: Africa is at once the most romantic and the most tragic of continents - W.E.B. Du Bois

A new month means a new inspirational quote! This September's comes from our Classic of the Month author:

"Africa is at once the most romantic and the most tragic of continents"
- W.E.B. Du Bois, 1915


Originally published in 1899, The Philadelphia Negro is a sociological study of the blacks living in Philadelphia in 1896-7. DuBois was hired by the University of Pennsylvania to conduct the study, under what some believe to be false pretenses. Some suspect that the study was meant, by those funding it, to show how the black community was responsible for a number of problems within the city. The report they received, however, was of quite a different nature.

The Philadelphia Negro was the first sociological study of black urban Americans ever conducted. It detailed their lives, their social structures, their education, their marriages, and their jobs. The study sought to illuminate ways in which philanthropy could help the people living in Philadelphia's Seventh Ward. It did not presume, as many people did at the time, that blacks lived in poor conditions due to an innate weakness in their race. This scholarly work serves as an excellent reference for students of history and sociology.


About the Author
American writer, civil rights activist, and scholar William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963) was the first black man to receive a PhD from Harvard University. A cofounder of the NAACP, he wrote a number of important books, including The Negro (1915) and Black Folk, Then and Now (1899).











Tuesday, September 17, 2019

September Book of the Month: The African Unconscious by Edward Bruce Bynum


 
This September, we are highlighting The African Unconscious by Edward Bruce Bynum as our Book of the Month!

The African Unconscious, originally published in 1999, is an Afro-centric look at human history based on archaeology, genetics, and the biospiritual roots of religion and science. Author Edward Bruce Bynum offers a captivating and controversial viewpoint on the roots of our human existence, positing that all humans at their deepest core are variations on the African template, creating a shared identity and collective unconscious in all. He looks at both phenotypical types and psychic structures that form and identify us as human beings. Ideal for humanistic and transpersonal psychologists and those interested in African American art and culture, The African Unconscious is a blend of modern and ancient psychology that provides a relevant backdrop to humanity and our daily life.

Praise for The African Unconscious:

"What Bynum has accomplished in pulling together such a mammoth body of knowledge and research into one cogent volume and theme is remarkable.... A contribution of this magnitude seldom comes once in a decade." - Linda James Myers, Ph.D., author of Understanding an Afrocentric World View

"I read with awe this passionate, brilliant, epic work. It is one of the most exhaustive and revealing studies of Black and human origins I have ever seen." - Lee S. Sannella, M.D., author of The Kundalini Experience 

"The African Unconscious is indeed a daring work, and a unique contribution to African diasporic studies. It is a must for all students of human psychology."" - Rowland O. Abiodun, author of Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought 

"The scope of the author's knowledge is simply awesome, and that, coupled with his engaging writing style, makes not for an 'easy' ready, but an adventuresome one.... For those who entertain notions of collective unconscious and deep structure racial messages, I cannot think of a better text that navigates such thinking." - William E. Cross, Jr., Ph.D., author of Shades of Black






Thursday, September 12, 2019

September Series of the Month: Bibliography of Forbidden Books

In these scary Orwell-like times, Cosimo is celebrating Banned Books Week with Bibliography of Forbidden Books by Henry Spencer Ashbee as our Series of the Month for September!

In this three-volume work that established Henry Spencer Ashbee, British book collector, travel writer and bibliographer, as England's leading authority on pornography, Ashbee describes scores of "curious, uncommon and erotic books" that were banned or otherwise prohibited from legitimate sale during the Victorian era... and some even until the 1960s. This catalog of mostly forgotten works is an invaluable (and highly entertaining) resource for bibliophiles, students of erotica, and collectors of Victoriana.

This series contains "gentlemen only" titles such as: Intrigues and Confessions of a Ballet Girl, The Pleasures of Kissing and Being Kissed, the infamous Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, the Cloisters Laid Open, Memoirs of Miss Mary-Catherine Cadiere, and Pretty Little Games for Young Ladies and Gentlemen.

About the Author
British book collector, travel writer, and bibliographer Henry Spencer Ashbee (1834-1900), aka Pisanus Fraxi, is thought by some to have authored the notorious Victorian sexual memoir My Secret Life.

About the Organization
Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. The 2019 celebration will be held September 22  -September 28, the theme this year is Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark. To find an event near you, please visit the Banned Books website.


The hardcover retail list price for the series is $101.97, but now: our price: $79.99 (you save $22 or a 27 percent discount)

The paperback retail list price for the series is $74.97, but now: our price: $59.99 (you save $15 or a 26 percent discount)

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Walt Whitman at The Morgan Library & Museum

Attention New Yorkers: through September 15, the Walt Whitman: Bard of Democracy exhibit will be running at The Morgan Library & Museum. Walt Whitman has been claimed as America's first "poet of democracy" and is one of the most influential writers of all time.

As a native New Yorker, Whitman's childhood home is available for tours and visits, and now you can also see his work (including a copy of Leaves of Grass) at the Morgan Library until next week.



To read more of his work, visit cosimo.com








Thursday, September 5, 2019

September Classic of the Month: The Negro by W.E.B. Du Bois

We are celebrating back to school this September with our Classic of the Month, The Negro by W.E.B. Du Bois.

This is the classic history of the African peoples in Africa and the New World, a repudiation of the absurd belief, widely held in the post-Civil War period, that Africans had no civilization but the one foisted upon them by their slavetrading captors.

Writing for a popular audience in 1915, DuBois, one of America's greatest writers, lays out in easy-to-read, nonacademic prose the striking and illustrious story of the complex history and varied cultures of Africa, from the art and industry of the peoples of the continent to the dramatic impact the slave trade had both in Africa and on her descendents in the Western Hemisphere. 

Boldly proud and beautifully written, this essential work will delight readers of American and African history as well as students of great American literature. 

About the Author
American writer, civil rights activist, and scholar William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963) was the first black man to receive a PhD from Harvard University. A cofounder of the NAACP, he wrote a number of important books, including The Philadelphia Negro (1899) and Black Folk, Then and Now (1899).








Tuesday, September 3, 2019

International UFO Conference this Weekend

The out of this world conference is happening this weekend!

Held this year in Phoenix, Arizona, 28th Annual International UFO Congress will be happening September 4th to 8th. Visitors will be able to listen to speakers, go to panels, listen to music, and attend a film festival. Speakers include David Hatcher Childress, George Knapp, Richard Dolan, Chuck Zukowski, and many more!

For more information on registering for the event, purchasing tickets, and hotel bookings, please visit ufocongress.com

To read up before International UFO Congress, be sure to check out our vast collection of titles on the unknown and extraterrestrials here. 

Thursday, August 29, 2019

August Quote of the Month: The Mueller investigation is complete and this is a simple fact that will never go away: not one single American was charged, indicted or convicted for conspiring with Russia to influence the 2016 election.”



"The Mueller investigation is complete and this is a simple fact that will never go away: not one single American was charged, indicted or convicted for conspiring with Russia to influence the 2016 election.” 
—Glenn Greenwald, journalist, 2019

Our August quote of the month comes from our August Book of the Month, The Mueller Report: The Investigation into Collusion between Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign and Russia by Robert Mueller. 

One of the most important political investigations in American history is Robert Mueller's inquiry into President Donald Trump's possible collusion with Russia. This investigation has engulfed US politics and US–Russia relations for the last two years, reaching levels of hysteria among political pundits and the media. Was it a “witch hunt,” as Trump supporters believed, or a necessary look into impeachable offenses?

In May 2017, Mueller was appointed to head the Special Counsel's Office investigation of the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including possible coordination between Donald Trump's campaign and the Russian government, as well as “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.”  In addition, Mueller also took over several other existing FBI investigations, including those into former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Although this investigation resulted in dozens of indictments for federal crimes, and at least eight guilty pleas or convictions, no American was charged, indicted, or convicted for conspiring with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Mueller submitted his report to attorney general William Barr on March 22, 2019, the findings of which are now available for everyone to read. This publication also includes two separate letters from Barr to the Senate Judiciary Committee detailing the findings of the report before its release. Students of politics, historians, journalists, and anyone interested in US politics will find this report vital reading.


About the AuthorRobert S. Mueller III (born 1944) is an American attorney, who spent the bulk of his career in government service, serving as a US attorney, homicide prosecutor, and director of the FBI (2001-2013). A life-long Republican, he has served Democratic and Republican presidents, enjoying broad bi-partisan support.




Thursday, August 22, 2019

August Book of the Month: The Mueller Report

As August comes to a close, we are getting closer and closer to the election, debates, and learning more about all those who are running for President in 2020. Our Book of the Month, The Mueller Report: The Investigation into Collusion between Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign and Russia by Robert Mueller, cannot be coming at a more timely moment in the history of American politics and democracy. 

One of the most important political investigations in American history is Robert Mueller's inquiry into President Donald Trump's possible collusion with Russia. This investigation has engulfed US politics and US–Russia relations for the last two years, reaching levels of hysteria among political pundits and the media. Was it a “witch hunt,” as Trump supporters believed, or a necessary look into impeachable offenses?

In May 2017, Mueller was appointed to head the Special Counsel's Office investigation of the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including possible coordination between Donald Trump's campaign and the Russian government, as well as “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.”  In addition, Mueller also took over several other existing FBI investigations, including those into former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Although this investigation resulted in dozens of indictments for federal crimes, and at least eight guilty pleas or convictions, no American was charged, indicted, or convicted for conspiring with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Mueller submitted his report to attorney general William Barr on March 22, 2019, the findings of which are now available for everyone to read. This publication also includes two separate letters from Barr to the Senate Judiciary Committee detailing the findings of the report before its release. Students of politics, historians, journalists, and anyone interested in US politics will find this report vital reading.


About the Author
Robert S. Mueller III (born 1944) is an American attorney, who spent the bulk of his career in government service, serving as a US attorney, homicide prosecutor, and director of the FBI (2001-2013). A life-long Republican, he has served Democratic and Republican presidents, enjoying broad bi-partisan support.