Shamanism

By Mircea Eliade,

Book cover of Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy

Book description

The foundational work on shamanism now available as a Princeton Classics paperback

Shamanism is an essential work on the study of this mysterious and fascinating phenomenon. The founder of the modern study of the history of religion, Mircea Eliade surveys the tradition through two and a half millennia of human…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Shamanism as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

When I say to you ‘Religions of Asia’ you will automatically think of the usual suspects: Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, and so on. Here is something different from Prof Eliade one of the great scholars of his generation. Shamanism is a major influence across the whole of the northern hemisphere from Canada through Siberia and into eastern and central Asia. The cover of the paperback has an Eskimo ceremonial mask. The shaman is medicine man, magician, miracle worker, priest, mystic and poet. We immediately think of the drum and the ecstatic body, but think also of eagle feathers, rattle, and robe…

From Bryan's list on making you wish you lived in Asia.

Want books like Shamanism?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Shamanism.

Browse books like Shamanism

Book cover of Making Tea, Making Japan: Cultural Nationalism in Practice
Book cover of Sensational Knowledge: Embodying Culture Through Japanese Dance
Book cover of Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in shamanism, Confucianism, and Hinduism?

Shamanism 49 books
Confucianism 17 books
Hinduism 29 books