Smoke Hole

Looking to the Wild in the Time of the Spyglass

By: Martin Shaw

Narrated by: Martin Shaw

For more Smoke Hole content subscribe to the Smoke Hole Sessions podcast to hear amazing conversations between Martin Shaw and some of our most admired writers, actors, comedians, and musicians like Sir Mark Rylance, John Densmore, and others...

“With potent, lyrical language and a profound knowledge of storytelling, Shaw encourages and illuminates the mythic in our own lives. He is a modern-day bard.” (Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles)

At a time when we are all confronted by not one, but many crossroads in our modern lives - identity, technology, trust, politics, and a global pandemic - celebrated mythologist and wilderness guide Martin Shaw delivers Smoke Hole: three metaphors to help us understand our world, one that is assailed by the seductive promises of social media and shadowed by a health crisis that has brought loneliness and isolation to an all-time high.

Smoke Hole is a passionate call to arms and an invitation to use these stories to face the complexities of contemporary life, from fake news, parenthood, climate crises, addictive technology, and more. Shaw urges us to reclaim our imagination and untangle ourselves from modern menace, letting these tales be our guide.

©2021 Martin Shaw (P)2021 Chelsea Green Publishing

super awesome

a most wonderful collection of stories. a wonderful narrative to fit our current time.

well worth the time

all three stories are very powerful and I agree with the interpretations and I think people would do well to listen and ponder how life could be so much better if we can return to some of the wildness and the power of community and the power of learning ourselves being responsible for ourselves

Fantastic stories

I really loved the stories read by the author. His analysis of the stories is fascinating. I will certainly listen to this book again.

Smoke Hole

Loved everything about this book, the stories, message and energy in which is was presented

Martin Shaw is a master storyteller and teacher

Sensuous and striking versions of old old stories. Powerful insights that bring the stories through us and through the current culture. I’ve listened to it 3 times.