Tragic Spirits

By Manduhai Buyandelger,

Book cover of Tragic Spirits: Shamanism, Memory, and Gender in Contemporary Mongolia

Book description

The collapse of socialism at the end of the twentieth century brought devastating changes to Mongolia. Economic shock therapy - an immediate liberalization of trade and privatization of publicly owned assets - quickly led to impoverishment, especially in rural parts of the country, where Tragic Spirits takes place. Following the…

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 Tragic Spirits as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Many people became shamans. Suddenly. Was it related to democracy and freedom and the end of cultural censorship in Mongolia, or was it related to the growing magical energy of some localities? Mandukhai, a Mongolian anthropologist tries to find an answer to such a phenomenon and discovers that shamans are related not just to magic, but to the tragic past of Mongolia’s rural communities. This is a serious read for those interested in history, political influence on indigenous culture, anthropology, magic, gender, and Mongolia’s nomadic lifestyle.

From Oyungerel's list on banned or forbidden stories to be told.

If you love Tragic Spirits...

Ad

Book cover of I Am Taurus

I Am Taurus By Stephen Palmer,

The constellation we know as Taurus goes all the way back to cave paintings of aurochs at Lascaux. This book traces the story of the bull in the sky, a journey through the history of what has become known as the sacred bull.

Each of the sections is written from…

Want books like Tragic Spirits?

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

Browse books like Tragic Spirits

Book cover of The Wealth of Nations
Book cover of Wolf Totem
Book cover of The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

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

1,593

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Russia, the economy, and neoliberalism?

Russia 390 books
The Economy 183 books
Neoliberalism 57 books