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The Unending Mystery: A Journey Through Labyrinths and Mazes
The Unending Mystery is a charming, offbeat, generously illustrated exploration of a form that has hada place in the culture of almost every civilization since the beginning of human history—and is now experiencing amodern revival.Labyrinths appear on Neolithic rock outcroppings and in some of the oldest legends from the Greek Isles and the American Southwest. They have been created to represent everything from the birth of a child to the descent into hell, and legions of claims—from facilitating pregnancy to freeing souls from Purgatory—have been made for their power. In them we see perhaps the first human effort to create a form not found in nature, and we experience a mystery that has survived the millennia in countless manifestations.From the Mediterranean to Tuscany and Scandinavia, from English villages to French cathedrals and Italian palace gardens, David Willis McCullough takes us on a grand tour of the great labyrinths and mazes. Using a distinctive blend of history and research, he tells the story of their interpretations and uses, from the exalted to the ridiculous. He visits with today's labyrinth enthusiasts, including a Scotswoman who creates them in the South Bronx, the canon of San Francisco's Grace Cathedral who wants to pepper the world with them, and the showman who conceived the first cornfield maze—a phenomenon that is staving off bankruptcy for many American farmers.McCullough's infectious enthusiasm and wit make him the ideal guide to the age-old, ever-alluring world of labyrinths and mazes.
262 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2004
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155 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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November 27, 2017DNF
A book that is marketed as a journey through the world's labyrinths and mazes?? Sounds right up my ally no? Alas, I also thought that but such was not the case. While there was nothing wrong with the book, it wasn't what I wanted to read. I wanted to go into this book and learn more about the science, math, and general mystic of this human invention but instead it was just pages after pages of the cultural/mythological stories behind different labyrinths. While they are important and intersting, it quickly gets dull after 52 pages. So I dnf'd it.
A book that is marketed as a journey through the world's labyrinths and mazes?? Sounds right up my ally no? Alas, I also thought that but such was not the case. While there was nothing wrong with the book, it wasn't what I wanted to read. I wanted to go into this book and learn more about the science, math, and general mystic of this human invention but instead it was just pages after pages of the cultural/mythological stories behind different labyrinths. While they are important and intersting, it quickly gets dull after 52 pages. So I dnf'd it.
December 3, 2012
A history of the labyrinth and its symbolism ......takes you through time and around the world, discussing the history and types of labyrinths found as well as their meaning to humanity.
Interesting but after a bit, I got tired of it and didn't find the modern ones as interesting as the historical ones.
Interesting but after a bit, I got tired of it and didn't find the modern ones as interesting as the historical ones.
December 9, 2015
Like so many of the non-fiction books I enjoy, McCullough goes off on tangents all over the place. There is history and current news, the personal and the universal, the sacred and the secular, the facts and the mystery.
Labyrinths and mazes--which are different though related (although for further confusion they are sometimes used interchangeably)--seem to be a phenomenon that has occurred spontaneously throughout cultures and times. They bear a resemblance to both the brain and the womb, and have been influenced by both geometry and fashion. They can be both challenge and meditation, both question and answer.
Just what I like: ambiguity.
I had no idea the construction and walking of labyrinths were a recently revived idea in the United States, or that there were organizations and even architects devoted to the subject. Just the different designs themselves are fascinating to me. I'll be heading off on some of these tangents myself.
Labyrinths and mazes--which are different though related (although for further confusion they are sometimes used interchangeably)--seem to be a phenomenon that has occurred spontaneously throughout cultures and times. They bear a resemblance to both the brain and the womb, and have been influenced by both geometry and fashion. They can be both challenge and meditation, both question and answer.
Just what I like: ambiguity.
I had no idea the construction and walking of labyrinths were a recently revived idea in the United States, or that there were organizations and even architects devoted to the subject. Just the different designs themselves are fascinating to me. I'll be heading off on some of these tangents myself.
August 17, 2011
Nifty history of labyrinths and mazes (and the differences between them). That some version of labyrinths have been constructed by humans, for so long, and across so many cultures is cool in and of itself and suggests, to me anyway, some deep connectivity. Yet the reasons, aesthetics and uses for them is quite varies and speaks, I think, of the wonderful creativity of human beings.
Another bonus is the author's droll sense of humor which occasionally show itself. It's also a relatively short book and a quick read.
Another bonus is the author's droll sense of humor which occasionally show itself. It's also a relatively short book and a quick read.
June 10, 2019
нічого нового, але цікаво подано. інформації не надто багато, але розповідь жвава й ілюстрації доречні+є ще інструкція, як самому намалювати лабіринт.
June 20, 2017
Not very well organized. There weren't enough sections in the chapters so many things blended together. I would have liked a list of labyrinths to visit. The history was helpful and useful, but overall it just didn't have the level of integration of history, modern day sensibilities and how to walk a labyrinth that i was looking for
October 28, 2025
5 stars for exhaustive research; Negative 5-stars for interest. (Before I picked this book up, I thought the topic could be of interest. Actually, it might be ... but a Wikipedia article would probably have kept my interest. Labyrinths? Sorry I asked.) There is probably not a thing related to labyrinths that this bood doesn't go into exhaustively.
August 25, 2013
A charming book which seeks to try and unravel the mystery of the labyrinth which proves to be both a perplexing and fascinating symbol that has captured the interest of people throughout the world and across time. Even today people still flock to walk the labyrinth.
The author explores the earliest roots of the labyrinth imagery, and how it has evolved over time to eventually become the modern maze a beloved game and puzzle for many people today. He seeks to uncover the truth beyond one of the most famous so called labyrinths of time, the Labyrinth of Daedalus and the Minotaur of Greek Mythology, as well as looks for an answer to the very origins to the word labyrinth itself.
Labyrinths appear in many different cultures, and religions, and have served people a variety of different uses. The labyrinth is a journey each individual may take to seek out their own answers in their life, and in understanding the mystery of this symbol which still very much holds us within its grip.
An enjoyable and interesting read, though I was a bit disappointed that the author did not spend more time on the historical aspects of the labyrinth. He starts to move fairy quickly into the book to more modern conceptions of the labyrinth, though I appreciated the way in which the author displayed the prominence that the labyrinth still has today, and how people continue to be captivated by it.
I also enjoyed his discussions on understanding the difference between labyrinth and maze, which as he points out are often mistakenly seen as synonymous to each other.
I very much appreciated the diagram to creating your own labyrinth that was included in the back of the book.
The author explores the earliest roots of the labyrinth imagery, and how it has evolved over time to eventually become the modern maze a beloved game and puzzle for many people today. He seeks to uncover the truth beyond one of the most famous so called labyrinths of time, the Labyrinth of Daedalus and the Minotaur of Greek Mythology, as well as looks for an answer to the very origins to the word labyrinth itself.
Labyrinths appear in many different cultures, and religions, and have served people a variety of different uses. The labyrinth is a journey each individual may take to seek out their own answers in their life, and in understanding the mystery of this symbol which still very much holds us within its grip.
An enjoyable and interesting read, though I was a bit disappointed that the author did not spend more time on the historical aspects of the labyrinth. He starts to move fairy quickly into the book to more modern conceptions of the labyrinth, though I appreciated the way in which the author displayed the prominence that the labyrinth still has today, and how people continue to be captivated by it.
I also enjoyed his discussions on understanding the difference between labyrinth and maze, which as he points out are often mistakenly seen as synonymous to each other.
I very much appreciated the diagram to creating your own labyrinth that was included in the back of the book.
November 11, 2013
I love labyrinths. I enjoy mazes, both the pencil/paper kind and those like Hampton Court where you actually walk between hedges. Rather, 20 years ago I enjoyed Hampton Court's Maze; I think I'm developing some claustrophobia of late, and the thought of high walls doesn't really do much for me.
Anyway, I thought this book would be fun. It's ... interesting, not exactly fun. There are plenty of details about the history of labyrinths, which are older than Minos and scattered throughout the world. The author generally focuses on Europe, and traces the change in outlook from mythology to spirituality to architecture to fun and back to spiritual. In the "fun" phase, he talks about the difference between labyrinths and mazes: the former has only one path to follow while the latter is about trickery and getting lost.
I wish he would have spent more time on the current (passing?) fad of labyrinths as spiritual devices. They are fascinating, and since that's where I came across them, that's where my interest lies. That's not to say that I'd never seen a maze before, but really labyrinths are different.
He did delve into the whole "corn maze" popularity, something I'd love to do but can't because being around corn pollen is like death on a plate to me. They look fun, and I've been assured by those who have tried them out that they are.
So a fun book, probably more one to skim unless you're doing a research paper, with lots of resources and notes directing readers towards others with backgrounds in either of the subjects.
Anyway, I thought this book would be fun. It's ... interesting, not exactly fun. There are plenty of details about the history of labyrinths, which are older than Minos and scattered throughout the world. The author generally focuses on Europe, and traces the change in outlook from mythology to spirituality to architecture to fun and back to spiritual. In the "fun" phase, he talks about the difference between labyrinths and mazes: the former has only one path to follow while the latter is about trickery and getting lost.
I wish he would have spent more time on the current (passing?) fad of labyrinths as spiritual devices. They are fascinating, and since that's where I came across them, that's where my interest lies. That's not to say that I'd never seen a maze before, but really labyrinths are different.
He did delve into the whole "corn maze" popularity, something I'd love to do but can't because being around corn pollen is like death on a plate to me. They look fun, and I've been assured by those who have tried them out that they are.
So a fun book, probably more one to skim unless you're doing a research paper, with lots of resources and notes directing readers towards others with backgrounds in either of the subjects.
April 22, 2013
Skaitau ir neapleidžia jausmas, kad autorius aprašinėja labirintus kaip prietaisą, priemonę, skirtą nežinia kokiam darbui atlikti. Išsinagrinėjo visą esamą literatūrą, aplankė ir išvaikščiojo daugybę labirintų ir jokio nušvitimo, kaip jis pats sako, nepajuto. Nežinau ar turėjo. Išsamus, kruopštus ir gana geras labirintų tyrimo aprašymas. Tačiau ir toliau neapleidžia jausmas, kad tas aprašymas panašus į tokį, lyg būtų žmogus prieš save pasidėjęs siuvimo mašiną, ir ją smulkiai ištyręs, susipažinęs su jos vystymosi istorija, bet va, siūti taip ir neišmokęs.
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June 1, 2015A very thorough historical and cultural examination of the phenomenon of the labyrinth. It was interesting to see the ways in which the pattern of the labyrinth was worked into different cultures. Since it was a history, it was occasionally pretty dry, but if you're interested in this sort of thing, it was really informative and intriguing.
March 30, 2013
The book traces the labyrinth from the earliest rock carvings and cave paintings though the modern new age movement. I enjoyed the first two thirds of the book more. Those chapters were focused on the history and the changed over time. The last few chapter were more about the 'new age' power of the maze and I found my attention wandering.
didntfinish-yet
October 13, 2008I probably should have seen this coming, but this book is really boring. Such fascinating subject matter, though! Hopefully I'll try it again some time....
July 9, 2011
Fascinating easy to read book covering the history of labyrinths and mazes. Touches base on the neolithic sites up to modern times, and the relatively recent phase that's happening now.
abandoned-or-not-interested
August 31, 2016Tons and tons of speculation by historians about labyrinth-related things. Got to the point where I just couldn't swallow one more unfounded speculation.
May 29, 2016
Kind of dry and repetitive...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews