Most Popular Books by Benjamin Grahl

We live in a world where technology has made seemingly endless amounts of information instantly available. The internet and our various devices connected to it have made it easier than ever to satisfy our need for entertainment virtually anywhere, with just a few clicks of a button or a few taps on a screen. We have become in many ways a society of instant gratification.

Despite the changes in the ways we access information that have occurred in the past few decades, there seems to be a perennial human need for good stories. Regardless of the format or time-frame in which they are presented, we are continually drawn to the art of a good story and the effect it can have on our collective and individual psyches. We seem to be hard-wired to have a need for narrative.

The first goal of this book, like so many others, is to tell a good story. To draw readers of all ages together, perhaps in a nightly ritual that sends young minds off to sleep with spirits and imaginations soaring. Along with that, I would hope to take my readers on a journey and give them even a passing glance at the vast collection of stories that we have inherited from those who have come before us. Especially in today's high-tech society, we have unparalleled access to a treasure trove of the world's literatures that have endured over millennia. Their staying power is a testament to the power of story in the human life journey, and to the boundless creative spirit that we all share.

The purpose of this book is not to provide an academic or pedagogical introduction to world mythology and sacred literature. These ancient works stand alone as complete art forms and need no help or summary from me (although those readers interested in a methodical approach to mythology would be well advised to read the work of the late Joseph Campbell, a real-life hero of mine). The stories presented in this book are of my own creation, inspired by the stories of times past. In writing these "new" stories, I have borrowed transcendent themes, character names, moral lessons, and other tidbits in the hopes of inciting the reader's curiosity as to the origins of these details. I have also subtly referenced a few of my favorite historical characters and ideas that have influenced our understanding of the world. I hope you have as much fun finding these little gems as I did hiding them.

It is my sincere hope for this book to give readers of all ages a good story. A reason to gather together at night and explore the different worlds and possibilities of the human imagination, much like millions of people from generations past. Whether by the glow of a campfire or from a portable reading device, it is apparent to me that the tradition of storytelling will be with us forever. I can only hope that my fascination with the world's stories is contagious, and that my readers, much like the heroes in the pages of 27 Nights, would set out on their own journeys of learning and discovery. If I can get even one reader to load up a search engine or crack open another book in the spirit of "where did that come from...?" then I count this work a success.

Happy reading, and as always, "follow your bliss."