The Raven’s Gift – A Book By Jon Turk
Published August 16, 2010 | 
Author, adventurer, scientist, sea kayaker and pretty smart guy, Jon Turk has a new book out called The Raven’s Gift. “A Scientist, A Shaman and Their Remarkable Journey Through the Siberian Wilderness.” I’ve not read Jon’s new book yet, but having read his past work I’ve no doubt this one will be as interesting and thought provoking as ever. The Raven’s Gift is described as, “a life-altering vision of the ties between the natural and spiritual realms, informed by one man’s awakening and guided by the ancient Spirit Bird with wide black wings and the power to heal.” Here are a couple reviews I’ve pulled off his website:
From Kirkus Reviews: – “A moving account worthy of shelving alongside Vladimir Arsenyev’s Dersu Uzala (1923), Barry Lopez’s Arctic Dreams (1986) and other explorations of native ways of life in the Far North.”
From Henry Pollack, Co-Winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore: “The tension between his own logical scientific background and the mysterious shamanistic wisdom of his healer is at the heart of this wonderfully-told story of Koryak life, and of his own personal transformation.”
From William Fitzhugh, Director, Arctic Studies Center, Smithsonian Institution: “Harrowing back-country mountain skiing, avalanches, and equally traumatic ski-trekking in the vast Siberian tundra where he searches for the last remnants of an ancient Koryak reindeer-herding people parallel Turk’s personal search for his own inner balance. This is a tale of loss and rebirth brought about by faith, reflection, and trust in a part of the world that has not been visited or described by Westerners for nearly one hundred years.”
I look forward to reading his new work. For information about The Raven’s Gift, Jon, and his past work including his wonderful book, “In the Wake of the Jomon”, visit his website at http://www.jonturk.net/. Tell him I sent you… He’ll still make you wipe your feet at the door. 
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3 Responses to The Raven’s Gift – A Book By Jon Turk
Interesting Turk would use the same title as Kelly Dupre used for his true story set in Greenland… (ISBN 0-618-01171-4).
It’s quite good, as is the “prequel” – “In the Wake of the Jomon”
Hi, all,,
Jon Turk here. In response to Michael’s comments about Kelly Dupre’s book, also titled, “The Raven’s Gift.” When I came up with the title, I did not know about Kelly’s wonderful book. (Shame on me, I didn’t Google the title.) Of course now I know about it and Kelly and I have communicated. Both books are about the arctic environment and the Raven as a totem animal. The messages are similar. The difference is that Kelly’s book is for children, mine is for adults. I have purchased several copies of Kelly’s book for my grandchildren and friend’s children, and plan to connect up with Kelly in Minnesota in November.