Books & Scholarly Works

References to books and academic studies related to Oraclepedia’s themes.

Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Olive Komberger: The Area of Social Problems – Howard Becker, Blanche Geer – 1963

This book examines how social problems are not inherent but are constructed through societal reactions and interpretations, challenging traditional approaches to deviance.
It arose from a period of social change and growing sociological inquiry, presenting a symbolic interactionist perspective.
It’s suited for students and those interested in social construction, societal narratives, and the dynamics of social control.

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Oceanography: An Introduction to the Marine Environment – Alan Trujillo, Harold Thurman – 9th Edition (2017)

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the scientific study of the ocean, covering its physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects. It is relevant to understanding the natural world that underpins many mythological and cultural narratives concerning the sea.

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New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Modern World – Wouter Hanegraaff – 1998

This work provides a comprehensive historical and intellectual examination of the New Age movement, situating it within the broader context of Western esotericism. It emphasizes the complexity and diversity of New Age beliefs, challenging simplistic characterizations and offering a nuanced scholarly perspective.

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Mythology of Japan – Alexander Kojève – 1987

Kojève’s Mythology of Japan presents a structuralist interpretation of Japanese myths, exploring their underlying patterns and connections to other mythological traditions. It’s a philosophical examination of foundational narratives.

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Networked Publics – Kazys Varnelis – 2008, MIT Press

Networked Publics explores the interplay between architecture, urbanism, and digital networks, arguing that the internet is reshaping public space and social interaction.
It was written during the rise of Web 2.0 and anticipates many issues related to social media and digital culture.
The book is suitable for academics, students, and anyone interested in the societal impacts of technology.

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Negotiations – Gilles Deleuze – 1995, Columbia University Press

Deleuze’s *Negotiations* investigates the concept of negotiation as a mode of being, exploring power, desire, and resistance. It offers a dynamic perspective on self-creation within systems of control.

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Narrative Theory – Gérard Genette – 1980, Jane E. Lewin (translator)

Gérard Genette’s Narrative Discourse provides a systematic analysis of the techniques and structures used in storytelling, dissecting the relationship between story and its telling.
It is a seminal work in narratology and remains influential in literary theory and beyond.

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Naturalistic Theology? – Ilkka Pyysiäinen – 2018, De Gruyter

Ilkka Pyysiäinen explores whether theological reasoning can arise naturally from human cognitive processes, independent of belief in a deity. The book utilizes cognitive science and evolutionary psychology to analyze the foundations of religious thought.

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Mythologiques – Claude Lévi-Strauss – 1964-1971

Claude Lévi-Strauss’s Mythologiques presents a structuralist analysis of North American Indigenous myths, revealing underlying patterns in human thought and symbolic systems.
The work examines myths as complex systems of communication that resolve contradictions and mediate opposing concepts.
It is a challenging but influential work for those interested in anthropology, linguistics, and the psychological foundations of belief.

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Narrative and Freedom – Luc Herman – 2018

Luc Herman’s book explores the relationship between storytelling, individual agency, and the construction of reality, viewing freedom as a negotiation within narrative frameworks.
The book draws from narrative psychology, philosophy, and Eastern thought to offer a nuanced perspective on autonomy.

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