The Living Mountain

The book is a quick read that is a cautionary tale of not abandoning centuries old traditions that connect us with our ecology because of shiny new ideas.

For me, an important takeaway from this book was that it is not just important to preserve traditions but also preserve the reason why our ancestors created those traditions in the first place. It is easier to uproot old traditions when no one remembers the reason why those traditions were created in the first place. Science has now given us tools to remember and we should make an effort to document the “whys” behind our traditions and to ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. It also allows us to evolve some of those traditions in a more respectful manner keeping in mind the realities of the present and the new knowledge that we have gained in our scientific endeavors.