Understanding the ancient Sumerian mindset through history, myth, and daily experience The Oldest Stories Podcast, with over 1 million downloads, is now available in book form. Focused on the history and myth of Ancient Mesopotamia, it is an engaging, in-depth dive into the history, culture, and mindset of the Ancient Near East and has covered everything from the rise of Sumerian civilization to the Bronze Age Collapse to the controversial history of ancient Israel. In this first volume, we cover the exciting foundational period of human history: the invention of writing, the oldest epics, and the history of the first cities and empires. Featuring thematic and fantastical illustrations, The Oldest Stories is an engaging, approachable way to understand the history, mindset, and daily experience of our ancient ancestors. These stories have now been compiled and edited into book format. Exclusive to the books are hand-drawn maps, a reference and further reading section, and many illustrations to enhance the stories. But the main treasure remains the stories themselves, preserved over millennia and re-told here with enthusiasm, accuracy, and plenty of fascinating tangents. Contents: The inventors of writing - The Epic of Gilgamesh - The first cities - The first social reformer - The first human empire - Gods and Games from 5000 years ago - And more! Features: Dozens of fanciful images! - Extensive Bibliography! - Hand-Drawn Maps! - Excessive Commas! The Oldest Stories podcast is, admittedly, a modestly sized show with low production values, but the strength of the content and presentation can boast a number of positive reviews from the internet, including: Great podcast "This is a fantastic podcast. The episodes are well narrated and include the uncertainties inherent in history as well as some wonderfully snarky comments about morality and endless recitations. James doesn’t shy away from the less palatable portions, but he keeps it family friendly. For anyone interested in early history, these are well worth a listen." - Nubckaes, Apple Podcasts Review 08/20/2021 (5/5 star) A Phenomenal Raconteur "James breathes life and personality into ancient history in a way I have never before experienced. He is the professor I wish I’d had in university and the bard we are so very fortunate to hear now." - Kritique73, Apple Podcasts Review 11/29/2020(5/5 star) Almost flawless, highly recommended for anyone with interests in myth/ancient history "This is a truly excellent podcast. Even with a lifelong interest in mythology and decent background in ancient history I have learned a lot from each episode. This podcast has made me think a lot more deeply about the innovations of ancient cities (how they departed from earlier human societies, how they influenced later periods and what they tell us about human nature). I never before considered how strange and important some aspects of this period are (e.g. campaign seasons vs imperial expansion, deep rift between shepherds and farmers, tension between religious and military authority). The storytelling is also gripping and tightly written and demonstrates clear familiarity with sources, with great contextualization. Unlike most podcasts I give this one my full attention rather than listening while doing other things." - Bjartur108, Apple Podcasts Review 07/31/2020(5/5 star) Note: The content of this book is primarily derived from the Oldest Stories podcast, which is available for free on most podcast platforms.Feel free to listen to that if you would prefer not buying the book, or to listen as a sample before buying. All illustrations in this book, except from the maps, are AI generated to create a certain feel and to save money.