The Anthropology of Magic

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 Magicredresses the balance and brings magic, as an aspect of consciousness, into focus through the use of classic texts and cutting-edge research. Taking a new approach to some perennial topics in anthropologysuch as shamanism, mythology, witchcraft, and healingthe book raises crucial theoretical and methodological issues to provide the reader with an engaging and critical understanding of the dynamics of magic.

Susan Greenwood is Visiting Senior Research Fellow at University of Sussex.