The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 10 of 12)

"The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion" by James George Frazer is an extensive examination of old myths and rituals, likely from the early 1900s, forming part of a twelve-book series that looks at the links between magic, religion, and old stories from different groups of people, with a focus on sacrifice and rites for growing things. This detailed study has a history and people-studying approach, drawing in readers who are curious about looking at cultures, the mind, or the growth of human ideas. Frazer begins by setting the scene for a search into the Golden Bough – a symbolic branch linked to old rituals, especially those of the King of the Wood at Nemi and the Norse god Balder. He thinks about the holy job of god-like kings who have to give up their forerunners to bring new life to their groups, and talks about rules around holy people, like the ban against touching the earth or seeing the sun. The start also brings up different ways of life linked to gender and keeping girls away during puberty in different societies, setting the stage for a wider look into how old beliefs and ways have shaped human civilization.