Shamans and Shamanism

By John Lee Maddox

Book Overview

Compares the development of the shaman, or medicine man, among tribal societies. A go-between for man and the spirit world, the shaman explains and resolves issues surrounding misfortunes, bodily... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486427072
• ISBN13: 9780486427072
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A brief history of Shamanism

This is a brief look into the roots and history of shamanism in many different cultures in the United States and around the world. Though not supporting the supernatural elements of the shaman's healing rituals, Maddox does state that 'Science has come out of superstition' and that 'Medicine had its origin in the ghost theory of disease'. The belief that a sick person had been possessed by a demon or 'evil spirit' was shared by many native healing men and women in various regions. Maddox also explores the social and economic value of the shamans and how their influence often affected the well-being of the entire social and economic structures of their People. Overall, the research is helpful and enlightening, though it is really only touching the surface of so many theories and facts regarding these early men and women of mystery. Chrissy K. McVay author of 'Souls of the North Wind'

well researched

Shamanism started out innocently attempting to help ignorant tribal man explain the world around him, then developed mostly into a scam and ended up having beneficial consequences in laying the foundations for modern medecine and other sciences. The book is a reprint originally published early in the 20th century and contains many amusing terms and spellings no longer in use. It is refreshingly NOT politically correct and I would put it up there with The Golden Bough as a reliable source of information.