In Why We Are in Need of Tails, we learn how we all used to have tails that helped us connect to each other and the world around us. When we lost our tails, we also lost our most nuanced way of communicating, so the story goes. Best friends Huk and Tuk explore ways we can compensate for this loss. They discover that by telling stories — tales — and by discussing the intriguing questions they raise, we're able to create a deeper understanding of ourselves, each other and the world we live in. Although Huk and Tuk's tales seem simple at first, the questions they raise are nuanced and complex, making them rewarding for adults and children to ponder together.
Now, in Part III, the latest in the Why We Are in Need of Tales series, Huk and Tuk gain an understanding of the different choices we make in different situations — and how important choices can be. And they learn that in order to make careful choices, we have to keep our eyes wide open.
Reviews
"The focus of this book is on making decisions, sometimes very hard decisions. In Part II, the focus is on dreams — hopes and wishes we have for life. This book looks at how we may best decide how to make those hopes and wishes come true. And the answer Huk and Tuk suggest is deceptively easy: by making decisions “with your eyes wide open.” (5, p. ix).
"The author of this excellent book managed to describe how to make decisions with your eyes wide open through the playful dialogue between Huk and Tuk. The books are written in dialogue so the reader immediately plunges into the context of a lively conversation. Dialogue not only sharpens attention, but also invites the reader to participate in the conversation. In this way, the reader becomes a listener at the same time."
—Dr. Sergey Borisov, Society and Power No.4 (94), December 20, 2022
Author(s)
Maria daVenza Tillmanns
Maria teaches a “Philosophy with Children” program in underserved San Diego schools in partnership with the University of California, San Diego. In 1980, she attended Dr.