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Magic: The Basics

Series: The Basics
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Magic: The Basics provides a concise and engaging introduction to the study of magic throughout world history and contemporary societies. It explores magic as a universal human phenomenon, examining its historical, social, and cultural dimensions. The book discusses various definitions of magic, contrasting it with religion and science, and delves into different magical practices and their purposes. It also addresses debates on magic's effectiveness, reality, and morality, while analysing its connections to social factors such as gender, ethnicity, and education.
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Format: Hardback
$23500
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for students and readers interested in the academic study of magic, anthropology, history, and cultural studies. It serves as an accessible introduction for those seeking a global and thematic perspective on magic from antiquity to the present.

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Magic: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to magic in world history and contemporary societies. Presenting Magic as a global phenomenon which has manifested in all human cultures, this book takes a thematic approach which explores the historical, social and cultural aspects of magic.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Magic: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to magic in world history and contemporary societies. Presenting magic as a global phenomenon which has manifested in all human cultures, this book takes a thematic approach which explores the historical, social, and cultural aspects of magic.

Key features include:

  • Attempts to define magic either in universal or more particular terms, and to contrast it with other broad and potentially fluid categories such as religion and science.
  • An examination of different forms of magical practice and the purposes for which magic has been used.
  • Debates about magic’s effectiveness, its reality, and its morality.
  • An exploration of magic’s association with certain social factors, such as gender, ethnicity, and education, among others.

Offering a global perspective of magic from antiquity through to the modern era and including a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading and case studies throughout, Magic: The Basics is essential reading for anyone seeking to learn more about the academic study of magic.

Series: The Basics

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781138809604

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 01 August 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Routledge

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 520g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Michael D. Bailey is Professor of History at Iowa State University. He is founding co-editor of the journal Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft and has published extensively on the history of witchcraft and superstition in medieval Europe.

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