Where do you go when you love the awe of the universe but the religious teachings simply don't do it for you? How can we approach our inner sense of being in a language other than theology? 'Toes Curling Crumbly Edge' is a work which looks at the two great mysteries of life, what we are and where we are, through the lens of mythology. This is not the mythology of the Greeks, Romans or Vikings but the mythologies we find in the things we believe today.

Mythology is the most fascinating and essential subject in the field of human inquiry. This is the story not just of who we are but of what we believe we are. And yet, there is not a single Comparative Mythology undergraduate degree course in any university. Why exactly is that when the subject of mythology is and always has been so popular?

Sociologists and psychologists will point to their term 'belief systems' and claim that covers the operation of myth within the individual and society. But does it really? The teachings of Comparative Mythology as a discipline lead us to many perspectives on our contemporary lives. They are based on understanding rationality but appreciating the great wonder of mystery and how we have used metaphorical language to describe the indescribable.

In 'Toes Curling Crumbly Edge' we look beyond the arcane texts of theology and view a creative mythology understanding through poetry and stories. A modern-day interpretation of bardic storytelling around the fires of history and science.

After giving a talk to the Pub History Society, a man approaches Jack Adams with an old scrapbook which is falling apart. He says, "I think you are the right person to give this to.", hands it over and then wanders off. The book is just about holding its pages, the covers are gone, pages are missing but what is left of the content is spellbinding. This resource is like a game of chess, a Times cryptic crossword and a Sodoku puzzle all bundled together and then presented without any rules on how to play the game. A treasure trove to delight anyone interested in history, culture and British pubs.

This is a work written with some humour but designed as a serious compass for guiding a man's life. Buying this helps to keep my work going and also then connects you into a lot of the thinking which goes behind Mythologies by Jack Adams.

Nobody needs to tell a man today that our role in our cultures and societies is changing. The traditional sense of what it is to be a man is under pressure from many different quarters and the word ‘toxic’ has even been associated with the male identity. The MANual: Book one, the rules, is a work that creates a point of reference for most of the situations men will and do face in their lives in the here and now.

For many of us, there is a feeling of being under siege by life itself. That is not just unhealthy but in the majority of cases simply unjust. Many of our role model influences have been taken away from us by the actions of an ever-changing and evolving global culture. Where there were certainties in the past, in the present we find hesitancy and our confidence being eroded.

Perhaps we need to go back to basics and look at what really makes a man strong and stable. The MANual presents ten points of reference which help a man to navigate life and be a man. They exist to guide a man in the ways and means to look at situations in life, understand them and thrive in our lives of today.

The most important thing to say upfront is that this is just a work of individual perceptions from an individual man. Wherever you are in your life, whatever troubles you have faced, remember that all experiences build your life in often unexpected ways. One thing is certain though, change is something it is always within our own gift to enact. You are never really alone and it is never too late to let your life bloom.

Often it is the late blooms grown in adversity that are the most beautiful. This work is designed to be accessible on different levels. The choice is left to the reader regarding how they wish to engage with the work. The MANual is conformed like a cake, filled with different ingredients, specific layers and flavoured for a range of tastes.

If you approach this work with a sense of humour, some understanding of irony and the ability to be self-critical then you are most likely to enjoy it.

The Grail Quest MANual is the second volume in The MANual series by Jack Adams. In this volume, the subject is an interpretation of the Arthurian Grail Quest as a metaphorical map for life. The work takes the six stages of The Grail Quest, as proposed by Joseph Campbell, and develops each into understandings of the different life challenges we all meet. In this way, it is possible to comprehend any situation a man finds himself in using one of these six stages. This provides a solid viewpoint of current challenges but also the knowledge of what is needed to be done to move forward.