Book Review: Time, Myth and Matter: Essays on the Natures and Narratives of Reality by LD Deutsch

Time, Myth and Matter: Essays on the Natures and Narratives of Reality is a collection of five essays tracing the relationships between different theories and events in the history of science and technology and various aspects of mythology, psychology, philosophy, (meta)physics and mysticism. It drills down, it maps and casts its net far and wide – following, tracking and tracing the design of what we call reality.

The publication of books on this kind of subject, in my opinion, has been very hit and miss. Past books have either come across as too “new-agey” or they reach into the depths of dusty academia, creating work that no-one really understands or can be bothered to plough through. What we actually wanted all along was an intelligent piece of work that allows everyone to understand it without reaching for their degree certificates – the word I am looking for here is accessibility! This is where this book never misses a trick.

The dedication, research and personal insight that moves within these pages is second to none. Each essay delves deep and touches on a lot of subjects that I believe elsewhere would be written as two separate texts and filed into two separate parts of the bookstore – spirituality and science. Here we have a wonderful weaving of subjects including mythology, Jungian theory and philosophy. These mighty subjects are coming up against science and technology? You bet they are! With both science and mythology being treated with the respect they deserve, these essays are an absolute treasure trove.

It is clear from the off that LD Deutsch’s research, attention to detail and deep understanding of her subject/s is not just a piece of work she has produced but a labour of love. A labour that I believe will open the minds of all who reads it, it serves as not only a repository of ideas that should be revisited and placed upon a permanent bookshelf but also a springboard for those of us who want to delve deeper into what it means to be human.

PRE-ORDER via Sacred Bones Books

Review by Katie Doherty (editor)