Shamanism

In 1951, Shamanism was first published. It has become the standard work in the study of this mysterious and fascinating phenomenon, surveying the practice of shamanism over two and a half millennia of human history. In the authoritative survey, author Mircea Eliade illuminates the magico-religious life of societies that give primacy of place to the figure of the shaman--at once magician and medicine man, healer and miracle-doer, priest, mystic, and poet. Synthesizing the approaches of psychology, sociology, and ethnology, this book will remain for years to come the reference book of choice for those intrigued by this practice.