Daniel Cohen (1) (1936–2018)

An engaging review of the history and folklore of lycanthropy, intended for younger readers (middle grade and up), Daniel Cohen's Werewolves is both informative and entertaining, covering a lot of historical ground, and a wide range of topics, and providing an excellent introduction to these legendary shape-shifters. From ancient stories, like the myth of Lycaon, as related in Ovid's Metamorphoses, to contemporary internet werewolf "packs," as well as everything in between - possible medical show more explanations for the werewolf legend (porphyria, hypertrichosis), lots of ghost stories, and tales of historical werewolf trials - this book has a little bit of everything, all collected together, and included in a narrative that manages to be both diffuse and coherently whole.

This is what I was hoping to find, when I picked up Thomas G. Aylesworth's Werewolves and Other Monsters, which ended up being less than satisfactory. I'm glad I happened upon Cohen's more recent work, as I now have an alternative to recommend, and think that it will be far more appealing to young readers. I liked that the author mentioned so many historical works, from the nineteenth century "penny dreadful," Wagner, the Wehr-Wolf, to Marie de France's twelfth century poem, Bisclavret. Many of the historical tales were deeply saddening to me, as I thought about how previous eras responded to issues of difference, mental illness, and (sometimes) crime. I found myself wondering whether many of the famous werewolf trials in France might have been the result of crimes committed by serial killers who may, or may not, have been the person accused.

In any case, this is just an engaging introduction to werewolves for younger readers, and possibly even adults, if they don't mind that's it a little simple in text and content. show less

While this book is dated, I still very much liked it. Delving into Fortean topics, the author maintained a skeptical approach while dissecting with Occam's Razor. Topics range from the disappearance of the Mary Celeste to UFOs, and Jack The Ripper to Stonehenge.

Daniel Cohen's books on Fortean topics were extremely influentual on my intellectual development as a teenager. His work's combine exactly the right mix of enthusiasm for the weird tempered with skepticism. Now that I'm a professional writer, people ask me, "Where do you get your ideas?" This book is one of the places I got my ideas. For an overview of all things odd and strange, boiled down to everything you need to know about Atlantis, dowsing, crystal skulls, and Nostrodamus, there really show more is no other book to rival this one. show less

Prohibtion, by Daniel Cohen, is a specialized book on the formations, enactment, and legacy of the 18th Amendment.

This is a well-balanced book, giving perspectives from a wide range of sources on the topic. The history of the Temperance Movement is discussed in detail, as well as its most famous members (such as Carry Nation).

Teetotalers are the loudest voices in this book, unfortunately. Many quotes from Temperance and religious leaders are given concerning the evils of drinking, but these show more appear more to be for historical reference. The author list a great deal of people that were against alcohol consumption, but other than simply stating that most people drank, it was popular, and few cultures generally saw anything wrong with it, the critics of Prohibition are silent in the book.

This book is informative, easy to read, and includes: an index, chronology of events, bibliography, and a further-reading section. The chapter titles are clear and so are the sub-topics. I was impressed with the section highlighting the racism found in parts of the Temperance movement, targeting immigrants (especially the German-Americans), as well as the section demonstrating the gender-divide in the movement (as women were at the forefront of the Teetotalers). show less