Fool Me: Tricksters and Their Stories - Paperback

by Ashley Oppon (Author)

Explore the wild, wise, and irreverent world of trickster figures from every corner of the globe in this vibrant collection of tales and commentary. Fool Me celebrates mischief, humor, and divine imperfection through the lens of global folklore and mythology.

Tricksters have always played a vital role in how cultures understand chaos, humor, and human nature. In Fool Me: Tricksters and Their Stories, author and folklorist Ashley Oppon invites readers on a globe-spanning journey through the myths and tales of divine troublemakers, clever fools, and sacred pranksters.

This collection begins by exploring what makes a trickster and how these mischievous characters can be venerated or honored like more traditional deities. Whether encountering Enki and the Djinn of Mesopotamia or hearing the tales of Eshu and the tokoloshe in Africa, Oppon takes you on a journey across continents.

With each tale, Fool Me: Tricksters and Their Stories invites readers to reflect on the deeper wisdom behind the mischief and how divine imperfection helps us laugh, learn, and find our way.

Author Biography

Ashley Oppon (she/her) is a spiritual practitioner, registered nurse, and death midwife. Having grown up in a home where she heard many Caribbean and West African folktales, she developed a love for mythology and religion from a young age. She is a volunteer at Good Grief, an organization dedicated to working with families through the grief process, and she hosts the Dine with the Divine, where she talks to guests involved with history, religion, and alternative spirituality. She lives in the great state of New Jersey.