History of Magic: From Alchemy to Witchcraft, from the Ice Age to the Present

This book is for people that are interested in historical looks at magic, culture, mythology and folklore. This work contends that three great strands of practice run and construct our understanding throughout human history: those of science, religion, and magic — the latter of which the author argues has gotten a bad rap over the past few years. From shamanistic traditions throughout the world, formal practices seen as magic, animism and paganism, the author argues that the Western World still holds many beliefs rooted in magical thinking. He follows by showing how these modes of thought continue to construct the ways in which we shape and conceive of the world around us.