Certainly a more learned reading experience can be found in "Climbing Brandon: Science and Faith on Ireland's Holy Mountain." Author Chet Raymo is an acclaimed science writer who for three decades has lived part of each year on the Dingle Peninsula, near the foot of Mount Brandon. He uses the mountain - a popular destination for religious pilgrims - to explore modern conflicts between science and religion. He begins with Ireland's conversion to Christianity, then outlines the evolving role the mountain has played over the centuries, weaving together myth and science, folklore and natural history, spiritual and physical geographies. The result is a brainy but accessible exploration of just how unique Ireland's religious experience has been, before and after St. Patrick. ($22 / 208 pages / Walker & Company)