Allan B. Chinen, MD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (voluntary), University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is the author of In the Ever After, Once Upon a Midlife, Waking the World and Beyond the Hero, as well as a co-editor of The Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology.

'Chinen’s splendid, new book, The Muses of Transformation and Truth, is an enlightening analysis of two dozen ancient international folk tales which are still relevant today. He argues that we repeat classical folk tales of truth to understand our realities. Though it may seem that tales are fiction, they are, in reality, embedded truths on which we depend to confront reality. In this regard, his explanations are dependable and highly insightful.' Jack Zipes, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota'Plato, in his Republic, described human life as people watching shadows on the wall of a cave. The ancient Greeks knew that the Muses needed to guide us from that cave toward the light. Allan Chinen’s book, The Muses of Truth and Transformation, recounts timeless folktales from around the world that help us on that journey. The stories teach us about judging truth and resolving conflicts, i.e., wisdom. We can all be grateful for Dr. Chinen’s guidance.'Harry R. Moody, Ph.D., author, The Five Stages of the Soul and retired Vice President for Academic Affairs, American Association for Retired Persons

• Part 1: Timeless Storytelling and Contemporary Wisdom 1. Our Plight Today: “The Fisherman and the Djinn,” Part I. 2. Storytelling and Modes of Comprehension: “The Fisherman and the Djinn,” Part II. 3. Comprehension and Transformation Today: “A Christmas Carol“ 4. Why Comprehension Modes Are Cross-Cultural: “When You Really Listen to a Story” 5. Ancient Modes and Modern Doctors: a Joke Part 2: Comprehension Modes in Operation 6. Comprehension Operations: “The Turtle Tower” 7. The Development of Comprehension Modes: “The Navajo Story of Emergence” 8. Structures of Creation and Comprehension: “Ta’aroa Creates the World,” and “The Big Bang” Part 3: Comprehension, Truth, and Transformation 9. Comprehension Modes and Transformation: “Why the Platypus Is Special” 10. Comprehension and Contemporary Disputes: “The Wolverine Grudge” 11. Truth and Transformation: “Orpheus’ Descent into the Underworld” 12. Monotheism and Monolithic Truth: “Moses Part I.” 13. Disciplined Truth: “The Muses” Part 4: Judging Multiple Modes of Truth 14. Judging Shoes and Facts: “The Elves and the Shoemaker 15. Faith, Fact and Feat: “A Lost Shoe of Gold” 16. Virtual Understanding and Empathy: “The Rich Man’s Dreams” 17. Games and Free Speech: “The Princess Liar” 18.Principles and Problem-Solving: “Penguin Island” 19. Creative Problem-Solving: “Crossing the River” 20. Judging Mythic Experiences: “Krishna and Arjuna” 21. Transcendence and the Mythic Mode: “Moses Part II” 22. The Place and Practice of Home: “Baucis and Philemon” 23. Absolute Truth: “Procrustes“ 24. Summary: Truth, Transformation and Re-Forging: “How Nanapush Brought the Peace Pipe to the People” 25. Epilogue: The Practice of Chivalry and Comprehension Today: King Arthur’s Roundtable

Allan B. Chinen, MD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (voluntary), University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is the author of In the Ever After, Once Upon a Midlife, Waking the World and Beyond the Hero, as well as a co-editor of The Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology.

'Chinen’s splendid, new book, The Muses of Transformation and Truth, is an enlightening analysis of two dozen ancient international folk tales which are still relevant today. He argues that we repeat classical folk tales of truth to understand our realities. Though it may seem that tales are fiction, they are, in reality, embedded truths on which we depend to confront reality. In this regard, his explanations are dependable and highly insightful.' Jack Zipes, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota'Plato, in his Republic, described human life as people watching shadows on the wall of a cave. The ancient Greeks knew that the Muses needed to guide us from that cave toward the light. Allan Chinen’s book, The Muses of Truth and Transformation, recounts timeless folktales from around the world that help us on that journey. The stories teach us about judging truth and resolving conflicts, i.e., wisdom. We can all be grateful for Dr. Chinen’s guidance.'Harry R. Moody, Ph.D., author, The Five Stages of the Soul and retired Vice President for Academic Affairs, American Association for Retired Persons

• Part 1: Timeless Storytelling and Contemporary Wisdom 1. Our Plight Today: “The Fisherman and the Djinn,” Part I. 2. Storytelling and Modes of Comprehension: “The Fisherman and the Djinn,” Part II. 3. Comprehension and Transformation Today: “A Christmas Carol“ 4. Why Comprehension Modes Are Cross-Cultural: “When You Really Listen to a Story” 5. Ancient Modes and Modern Doctors: a Joke Part 2: Comprehension Modes in Operation 6. Comprehension Operations: “The Turtle Tower” 7. The Development of Comprehension Modes: “The Navajo Story of Emergence” 8. Structures of Creation and Comprehension: “Ta’aroa Creates the World,” and “The Big Bang” Part 3: Comprehension, Truth, and Transformation 9. Comprehension Modes and Transformation: “Why the Platypus Is Special” 10. Comprehension and Contemporary Disputes: “The Wolverine Grudge” 11. Truth and Transformation: “Orpheus’ Descent into the Underworld” 12. Monotheism and Monolithic Truth: “Moses Part I.” 13. Disciplined Truth: “The Muses” Part 4: Judging Multiple Modes of Truth 14. Judging Shoes and Facts: “The Elves and the Shoemaker 15. Faith, Fact and Feat: “A Lost Shoe of Gold” 16. Virtual Understanding and Empathy: “The Rich Man’s Dreams” 17. Games and Free Speech: “The Princess Liar” 18.Principles and Problem-Solving: “Penguin Island” 19. Creative Problem-Solving: “Crossing the River” 20. Judging Mythic Experiences: “Krishna and Arjuna” 21. Transcendence and the Mythic Mode: “Moses Part II” 22. The Place and Practice of Home: “Baucis and Philemon” 23. Absolute Truth: “Procrustes“ 24. Summary: Truth, Transformation and Re-Forging: “How Nanapush Brought the Peace Pipe to the People” 25. Epilogue: The Practice of Chivalry and Comprehension Today: King Arthur’s Roundtable

Allan B. Chinen, MD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (voluntary), University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is the author of In the Ever After, Once Upon a Midlife, Waking the World and Beyond the Hero, as well as a co-editor of The Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology.

'Chinen’s splendid, new book, The Muses of Transformation and Truth, is an enlightening analysis of two dozen ancient international folk tales which are still relevant today. He argues that we repeat classical folk tales of truth to understand our realities. Though it may seem that tales are fiction, they are, in reality, embedded truths on which we depend to confront reality. In this regard, his explanations are dependable and highly insightful.' Jack Zipes, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota'Plato, in his Republic, described human life as people watching shadows on the wall of a cave. The ancient Greeks knew that the Muses needed to guide us from that cave toward the light. Allan Chinen’s book, The Muses of Truth and Transformation, recounts timeless folktales from around the world that help us on that journey. The stories teach us about judging truth and resolving conflicts, i.e., wisdom. We can all be grateful for Dr. Chinen’s guidance.'Harry R. Moody, Ph.D., author, The Five Stages of the Soul and retired Vice President for Academic Affairs, American Association for Retired Persons

• Part 1: Timeless Storytelling and Contemporary Wisdom 1. Our Plight Today: “The Fisherman and the Djinn,” Part I. 2. Storytelling and Modes of Comprehension: “The Fisherman and the Djinn,” Part II. 3. Comprehension and Transformation Today: “A Christmas Carol“ 4. Why Comprehension Modes Are Cross-Cultural: “When You Really Listen to a Story” 5. Ancient Modes and Modern Doctors: a Joke Part 2: Comprehension Modes in Operation 6. Comprehension Operations: “The Turtle Tower” 7. The Development of Comprehension Modes: “The Navajo Story of Emergence” 8. Structures of Creation and Comprehension: “Ta’aroa Creates the World,” and “The Big Bang” Part 3: Comprehension, Truth, and Transformation 9. Comprehension Modes and Transformation: “Why the Platypus Is Special” 10. Comprehension and Contemporary Disputes: “The Wolverine Grudge” 11. Truth and Transformation: “Orpheus’ Descent into the Underworld” 12. Monotheism and Monolithic Truth: “Moses Part I.” 13. Disciplined Truth: “The Muses” Part 4: Judging Multiple Modes of Truth 14. Judging Shoes and Facts: “The Elves and the Shoemaker 15. Faith, Fact and Feat: “A Lost Shoe of Gold” 16. Virtual Understanding and Empathy: “The Rich Man’s Dreams” 17. Games and Free Speech: “The Princess Liar” 18.Principles and Problem-Solving: “Penguin Island” 19. Creative Problem-Solving: “Crossing the River” 20. Judging Mythic Experiences: “Krishna and Arjuna” 21. Transcendence and the Mythic Mode: “Moses Part II” 22. The Place and Practice of Home: “Baucis and Philemon” 23. Absolute Truth: “Procrustes“ 24. Summary: Truth, Transformation and Re-Forging: “How Nanapush Brought the Peace Pipe to the People” 25. Epilogue: The Practice of Chivalry and Comprehension Today: King Arthur’s Roundtable