Alive

Life in its many forms is intertwined in manifold ways. Making the coexistence of different beings and worlds tangible through an exploration of objects, stories and works of art, this book shows that in many regions of the earth, our co-world is experienced as an animated being. Mountains and rivers are not just resources or backdrops to human endeavors, but powerful sources of life; plants and animals are not just food, but companions; ancestors and spirits influence everyday life. Understood in this way, local perspectives and alternative forms of social coexistence provide pathways to shared futures. A great variety of international authors tell stories of interwoven lives that invite us empathically and informed to rethink our relationships with the world.