BBC travel journalist Eliot Stein spent seven years traveling around the world to investigate the people and processes, the history and the lore surrounding ten “on the brink of being lost” skills. The resulting book CUSTODIANS OF WONDER: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive is a fascinating glimpse into how much we don’t know about our fellow human beings. What made them tick over the centuries and what motivates them to preserve their past, despite the odds.

As the author points out in the Introduction, it’s never clear when something is done for the last time or when the last person with intricate, time-honored skills, often closely guarded secrets, will pass away. Just as local languages are constantly being degraded and lost, once a tradition is gone, it’s nearly impossible to retrieve it from the collective memory. Each example was a reminder of how vulnerable our culture and practices are to time and inexorable change.

My favorite chapter was set in Kerala, southern India where for centuries, a family passed down the secret of mixing liquid metals to produce a metal-alloy mirror that revealed to the viewer his or her true self. The author searched to find the teacher of the teachers and current practitioners, only to discover him and his wife living in poverty and obscurity. Despite losing almost everything in the devastating floods of 2018, he was at peace because he had “done my best to pass the tradition on, as my grandfather wanted.” This kind of reverence for family and tradition permeated every account. Fortunately, because of the attention brought to his work by the author, this teacher-artist is now being recognized and more justly rewarded.

Each chapter seems almost a book unto itself. That is both a plus and a minus. With the detailed background to the practices and practitioners Stein profiles, each chapter could easily be the basis for a filmed documentary. But sometimes that much detail made for difficult reading. I still felt it deserved five stars as a fully developed project which provides information and perspective that are not available elsewhere and for the respect and sensitivity Stein had for his project.

With thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a wonder in and of itself. Rarely does a nonfiction tome read this seamlessly. I loved each of these stories, and have spent more time after reading to go look up more information about them. This was a lovely treat!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This is a unique, in-depth overview of some of the rarest practices/professions in the world. The enduring passion and dedication allocated to preserving these practices were abundant throughout each chapter. If any of these practices were to be forgotten or discontinued, the cultural loss would be apparent. The reasons for certain practices dying out were thought-provoking and sobering, especially considering the global shift to favoring mass production and industrialization over small, artisanal products. Plenty of background and context are provided. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to vicariously travel and experience these eye-opening, singular practices.

I’d give this book 4/5 stars. It was enjoyable and fast to read.

Each chapter focused on one person and their story of keeping their cultural rites alive. I like that it explored not only the person’s history but also the history of the region where they live and how that influenced the ritual. I learned a lot about the history of various regions while reading this book. It was done in a cohesive way to add to the story and not take away from it. Some chapters were more interesting than others, but overall I enjoyed it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for proving an ARC for me to review.

I rarely read nonfiction, but the premise of this book sounded interesting. I enjoyed learning about the obscure roles and traditions of the 10 people highlighted in this book. The author took great care with each of their stories. In some cases there was an excess of information that I felt did not add to the story, but that seems to be his style and in the end were interesting facts on their own.

What amazed me most was that most of these stories sound archaic, but the lives I was read about were in current times. Do all of these roles and traditions need to continue? Not all, but I appreciated the author introducing me to these remarkable people. My favorite was the final story about the oak tree. Yes, it was about the post man, but really it was about the oak tree.

Edit: I have updated my stars from 3 to 4. Probably 4.5 because I cannot stop thinking about some of these stories! I went back to see if some of the people are still living. I also have researched and purchased shoyu soy sauce made in original wooden vats. And as someone who loves to travel, I have looked up some of these places to consider if I would visit there. I have also edited my original text because re-reading it, I made it sound like I didn't like the book. I did like it, but now I realize I liked it a lot.

Stein does an excellent job of balancing between the custodian and the wonder! I enjoyed that there was in depth exploration of how these dying traditions were born - but I, even more, loved how careful Stein was to include the human aspect of these traditions. The prose was a little dry for my taste but I did have fun learning new things!

As a traveler, I leaned into this collection of stories of people from far away places.

From the author's introduction:
'In an age when everything has seemingly been explored and explained, and where cynicism so often overshadows curiosity and wonder, these cultural custodians remind us how much there still is to discover and invite us to fall back in love with the world.'

In the pages of Custodians of Wonder, not only do we get an inside view into the fading cultural traditions and their people, but the author also provides us a researched history of the tradition around the globe. It was repeatedly heartwarming to me how many of these multigenerational activities, thou boarding on being obsolete, are being preserved for those who will follow.

This book is written in a conversational manner that is easy to follow. The people and places are brought to life. The traditions, heart and strength of the people remains memorable. Thou interesting, I found the chapters lengthy and skipped ahead more often than not. I can whole heartedly recommend this book to those who are travelers at heart and to those who have great curiosity about the ways of other cultures and the days of past.

This is a travelogue based on Mr. Stein's adventures in traveling to meet people who are the 'last of their kind', that is the last person with ancient knowledge and skills passed on for hundreds of years. I found the topic interesting, but the book read to much like a memoir of a traveler with long chunks of history thrown in. If you enjoy reading about peoples travels and history, this will be right up your alley. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

These days, I often despair over the state of the world, and worry that we are failing to preserve many of the most precious things around us. It was lovely and comforting, then, to pick up this collection of stories told by author Eliot Stein as he traveled the world exploring “ancient customs, profound traditions, and the last people keep them.” His collection, Custodians of Wonder, which will be published in early December 2024, is a perfect balm for times of despair.

Part travelog, part anthropology, part biography – and all heart, these ten stories are beautifully written and full of hope. I decided to take my time reading this collection – not because it was challenging to understand or uninteresting to read, but because I wanted to savor each story individually. It was a great decision, and one I recommend (if you have the time and opportunity for a leisurely read). As with any collection, I enjoyed some stories more than others (particular favorites included of mine included the stories about the night watchman and the one about the soy sauce).

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on December 10, 2024.

4 stars.

I was initially caught by the beautifully illustrated cover and title of this book, so felt intrigued to find out a little more.

Stein takes the reader on a fascinating global tour looking at various traditions and keepers of folklore which, although they are not linked in any way, they are incredibly interesting and thought provoking.

What I particularly enjoyed was the personal stories of the individuals who are Custodians of Wonder together with researched facts to support the background to the 'tradition'.

A beautifully written book which will make a great addition to any book collection or equally a perfect gift.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to preview this book. The only thing missing were photos, which would've made the read perfect.

#netgalley #wonders #tradition #folklore #books #reading

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of “Custodians of Wonder” by Eliot Stein. I was deeply moved by the wonderful way in which the author captured and respected each of the stories he presented. Some are so fascinating and moving but also saddening because you realize that inevitably, some of these traditions will likely fade away. Thanks to this author’s amazing work, however, they will not soon be forgotten.

Interesting topics, but are the really the LAST people with their individual knowledge? Yes, the knowledge is rare, but they are not alone. Much of the story is bogged down by big information dumps that you have to wade through.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

A captivating and beautifully written book that opened my eyes to the vast amount of knowledge I lack about the world, and the reality that many of these experiences may vanish forever. Eliot Stein's prose is clear, lyrical, and evocative. I found myself longing to explore every location, meet every individual, and learn everything possible. This book is a showcase of Stein's remarkable attention to detail, but it also meant I occasionally had to pause mid-chapter and return later, likely missing some nuances along the way.
Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly endorse this book as a brilliant concept executed wonderfully, and it will linger in my thoughts for quite some time.
This is a truly unique read. It delves into a multitude of cultures and regions around the globe that I have never had the chance to visit.
Discovering ancient customs and traditions was mind-blowing for me, as most of the content was completely new.
It is both informative and engaging, although I found that certain chapters captured my interest more than others.
If you're seeking a distinctive exploration of hidden and largely unknown aspects of the world, primarily known only to the locals, then this book is a fascinating choice.

Custodians Of Wonder, ancient customs profound traditions in the last people keeping them alive by Eliot Stein, from Cuban book readers that have the only Democratic job in Cuba to the only African Family keeping a musical in oral tradition alive and has been for hundreds of years, to a Middle Eastern family keeping an ancient secret for making a magical mirror and the only woman who does it, to so much more. This book is full of rare and odd traditions I had never heard of. The book was way more interesting than I first believed and I believed it to be super interesting it was so good I love learning new things in this book is full of things I didn’t know and I read a lot of books about ancient history and the societies that no longer exist when it comes to history whether it be ancient modern or contemporary I’m always afraid when getting a new book I will have heard the information in it before but this book was totally surprising and refreshing and it’s a book I definitely recommend. #NetGalley,#Saint Martin’s press, #EliotStein, #CustodiansOfWonder,

A fun look at global practices that are threatened by a lack of people to keep the tradition alive. The physical craft chapters were more successful than the ones that looked at practices, but overall, I really liked this, and I also liked the way that Stein makes sure his role in these interactions is clear.

I loved reading these 10 stories about the sole guardians of customs around the world. The author painted striking pictures of what life is like for these people who are the last of their line to maintain these ways of life. It's really sad to think that these customs that have lasted generations can die with them if they cannot find anyone to take over. Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advance reading copy of this book.

This was so delightful! Lots of interesting stories about absolutely fascinating people keeping alive traditions that I didn't even know existed. This should be a must-read for everyone!

Stein profiles people with rare or disappearing jobs from around the world and uses that as a springboard to talk about the surrounding history of the job and the area, but also talks a little bit about himself. I found the memoir aspects less compelling — I wanted to hear more about these interesting people with interesting jobs. Some profiles succeed more than others, but overall, I liked this. I particularly recommend the chapter on los lectores in Cuba (people who read news and novels to cigar rollers during their shifts), and the chapter on the "romantic" oak tree in Germany that ended up profoundly affecting the postal worker assigned to deliver letters there. Both of these chapters appeared in a previous form on BBC Travel, so I wonder if having extra time to percolate helped. Even if, overall, this wasn't love for me, ymmv.

This is an enchanting book, and a perfect Christmas present! From Italy to Peru, to India, to West Africa, the author takes us into the hearts and hands of incredible craftspeople, some of the last of their kind. This book preserves their lives and skills in words, and makes us wander what else we are losing without knowing it existed in the first place.

This book is a journey around the globe, introducing you to fascinating aspects of cultures, traditions, history, and the dedicated individuals preserving long-held customs.

I love nonfiction books like this because they are not only informative and engaging, but they can also be enjoyed in one sitting or in small doses, as each section covers a different topic. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been savoring this book bit by bit, rather than rushing through it.

It’s quite poignant to realize how few people are left to keep some ancient traditions and customs alive. Many traditions have likely been lost over the years without our knowledge. This book shines a light on some of the traditions that are still remembered and maintained, with the hope that they will continue for many more years.

While I won’t repeat the traditions discussed in the book - you can read the synopsis for that - a few of my favorites include the world’s rarest pasta, the last Scandinavian night watchman, and the secret ingredient in Japan’s 700-year-old soy sauce recipe. Not every topic captivated me equally, and that’s perfectly fine. I still learned a great deal and deeply respect the extensive research and effort that went into each subject.

I believe any nonfiction enthusiast would appreciate this book, but it might be especially intriguing for those interested in cultural studies or anthropology.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for sending me an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.