"Stein's reverent prose conveys the awe-inspiring nature of these arcane cultural traditions without exoticizing them ("There's something truly singular about witnessing someone do something that nearly nobody else in the world knows how to do. It's like watching a secret"). This is worth seeking out." - Publisher's Weekly

"Stein approaches each person and tradition with respect. Area histories are woven into the narrative, providing essential background to understanding what will be lost if these traditions are not carried on. "I am hoping to awaken people to something deep and beautiful they may otherwise never know about," he writes-- and he succeeds. A mix of travel, history, craft, and anthropology, this insightful book will especially delight armchair travelers and those interested in the diversity of the world." -- Booklist

"Custodians of Wonder is a hopeful book, making the case that seemingly idiosyncratic and antiquated practices in distant corners of the world still matter; they reveal a particular place's identity, and offer comfort, community and beauty even through centuries of change." -- BookPage (starred review)

"Custodians of Wonder is the perfect title for this superb and unclassifiable book. Part travel, part anthropology, part memoir, part history, each chapter reveals a cultural treasure or custom that's about to disappear. From a Mali musical instrument, a sacred Sardinian pasta, artisan Japanese soy sauce, a secret mirror, to beekeeping and the survival of medieval night watching on the tip of Sweden, Eliot Stein's quests not only explore each subject in depth but open wide the aperture onto the cultural context. I was enthralled by every chapter. Written with verve and acute observation, this book is one of the rare ones that take you where you've never been." -- Frances Mayes, bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun

"Intrepidly reported and delightfully delivered, Custodians of Wonder is a tonic for our troubled times. From a Swedish night watchman to a Peruvian bridge weaver, Eliot Stein shines a bright and generous light on unexpected pockets of joy--and reminds us of the quiet beauty found in ancient, unbroken traditions. There is much magic, and wisdom, in these pages." -- Eric Weiner, NYT bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss and The Geography of Genius

"I so enjoyed Eliot Stein's celebration of the unsung arts still faintly glowing in the shadows of all our pasts. In this charming book he has uncovered and preserved treasures across five continents that might otherwise have slipped away. As he writes, Custodians of Wonder 'invites us to fall back in love with the world.'" -- Sara Wheeler, author of Mud and Stars: Travels in Russia