The Untold History of Healing: Plant Lore and Medicinal Magic from the Stone Age to Present

While the title of this book might appear underwhelming, don’t let it fool you. The Untold History of Healing: Plant Lore and Medicinal Magic from the Stone Age to Present is one of those sleeper books, something that lingers on your bookshelf for far too long before you idly pick it up one day, become entirely engrossed, and kick yourself, saying, “Gosh darn it, why didn’t I read this before?!” (For the record, the “gosh darn it” is entirely optional.)

This is a slower-paced but nonetheless fascinating read on healing, culture, and belief, and it shows how each has affected the other through time, delving into the whys and wherefores of ancient peoples and examining how belief has shaped medicine. It is a truly epic journey, and author Wolf D. Storl does a masterful job at keeping his narrative on-point and relevant. He includes a great deal of detail, has a pleasant narrative voice, and firmly roots his discussions in the everyday life of the ancient world. His descriptions of herbs, decoctions, and rituals may leave readers itching to tap into their own inner traditional healer.