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The Anthropology of Magic

The Anthropology of Magic

by SusanGreenwood (Author)

  • New

    Hardcover 2009

    $184.67
Synopsis

Magic is arguably the least understood subject in anthropology today. Exotic and fascinating, it offers us a glimpse into another world but it also threatens to undermine the foundations of anthropology due to its supposed irrational and non-scientific nature. Magic has thus often been 'explained away' by social or psychological reduction. The Anthropology of Magic redresses the balance and brings magic, as an aspect of consciousness, into focus through the use of classic texts and cutting-edge research. Suitable for student and scholar alike, The Anthropology of Magic updates a classical anthropological debate concerning the nature of human experience. A key theme is that human beings everywhere have the potential for magical consciousness. Taking a new approach to some perennial topics in anthropology - such as shamanism, mythology, witchcraft and healing - the book raises crucial theoretical and methodological issues to provide the reader with an engaging and critical understanding of the dynamics of magic.

$184.67

Quantity

20+ in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 172
 Edition: 1
 Publisher: Routledge
Published: 11 Jan 2009
ISBN 10: 1845206703
ISBN 13: 9781845206703
Book Overview: Also available in paperback, 9781845206710 GBP14.99 (November, 2009)

Media Reviews
This book invites students of anthropology on a journey of discovery both academic and personal. Greenwood gently persuades that 'magic' is capable of rigorous analytic treatment, while also giving them the tools to begin doing this themselves. She provides a clear, systematic and attractive approach to complex and difficult issues. Professor Geoffrey Samuel, University of Cardiff The Anthropology of Magic is an exceptional book. Written by an ethnographer who is simultaneously a scholar and a practitioner of magic, it explores academic debates about the history and nature of magic and reveals what magical practitioners say and do. The language sparkles with inner knowing and outer sophistication. Barbara Tedlock, Distinguished Professor, Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Buffalo An eye-opener of a book. John Robert Colombo, JR Colombo Reviews This gentle, unassuming, yet highly provocative book could well be the crest of a wave which will wash over magical practitioners and scholars alike, and take us to a new mutually fruitful understanding. Highly reccomended. Phil Hine The Anthropology of Magic is clear, structured, sophisticated, and insightful. Greenwood provides a fresh perspective on magic, that of the magical consciousness, with a participatory approach that is so important not only to anthropology, but to any explanatory framework regarding the nature of human experience. L. J. Vollmer, Amazon An ideal book for students, who will no doubt find it accessible and thought provoking. It also has much that will surely delight and inspire academics and the public alike, and makes a worthy addition to this fascinating and exciting topic. Anthropology of Consciousness This book is an interesting read and a timely contribution to theories of magic, as it takes a fresh and contemporary approach to the much maligned topic of magic. The author shows us that magic is a human experience which deserves more thorough investigation. Lynne Hume, Department of Studies in Religion, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, Journal of Contemporary Religion
Author Bio
Susan Greenwood is Visiting Senior Research Fellow, University of Sussex