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“Tricking Power into Performing Acts of Love weaves together delightful stories of mischief from famous tricksters.”

– MIKE BONANNO of The Yes Men

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Open Your Mind...

…to grownups who play as they did when children, play in order to keep on playing, not to win or defeat. Such folks will encounter and engage with the Trickster, humanity’s oldest known archetype. The Child plays for fun, and the Warrior plays to win, but the Trickster’s play disrupts the Warrior’s contest, and opens a portal to a wider range of societal possibilities. Click around to learn more.

…a thoughtful examination of shared attributes of Tricksters across genres, time periods, and cultures, from the Native American coyote and Zulu weasel to “The Fool” in King Lear and Bugs Bunny. Though the book’s firm command of the scholarly literature surrounding Tricksters will appeal to academics, its approachable…jovial, writing style will also appeal to a wide audience.

– Kirkus Reviews

Public Speaking

Shepherd Siegel would love to meet you, engage with and play with you and yers. Within the conventions of a featured speaker, but of course! With more than a nod to the magic of vaudeville, standup, and the fruits of diligent research. Dr. Siegel brings the Trickster archetype to life right before your very eyes. And explains how giving tricksters their due is going to make the world a better place.

Public Speaking

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The Message of the Trickster

July 30, 2023

Everything Everywhere… All At Once (as sung by the great Whitney Houston) Okay, that’s just me being clever. Here’s David Bowie being wise: “We live within this manifested idea of what should be form, and what we try and keep out of our existence is chaos, which is a very real part of our lives, and…

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Shepherd’s Q & A with Kirkus Reviews

May 13, 2023

I had the opportunity to answer a few questions from Kirkus Reviews. It’s right here, just beyond this handy link! Not to mention their review of Tricking Power into Performing Acts of Love. Check THAT at THIS handy link! …and go to “Books” to support independent bookstores and getcherself a copy. yers and cœurs, Shepherd Siegel Photo:…

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Happy Birthday, Dennis Rodman!

May 13, 2023

All he wanted was to leave his life as a pro basketball player the same way he entered life. “After my last game . . . I’ll walk off the court and take off one piece of clothing with every step,” Rodman said. “Then I’ll be at about midcourt, and I’ll walk the rest of…

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