Body Guards: Protective Amulets & Charms [Hardcover]

Desmond Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999

Illustrated throughout with photographs from the author's own collection, this guide traces the traditions and mythology behind over 100 of the most common amulets. Animal magic; rock of ages; plant power; heaven help us; word for word; body parts; eye to eye; helping hands; safe as houses.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Desmond Morris is a prolific author as well as the presenter of numerous television programmes. He wrote the international bestseller, 'The Naked Ape' and has used his skills as a zoologist and 'Manwatcher' in titles such as 'Bodywatching', 'Babywatching', 'Body Talk', 'The Human Zoo' and 'The Soccer Tribe'.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Foreword: In writing this book my main interest has been to record an endlessly fascinating human pursuit, as it survives at the end of the 20th century. I cannot help wondering whether, if someone were to read this book 100 years from now, they would be surprised at how primitive we were in our beliefs, or whether they would be saying, yes, we still do all that, even now. It is impossible to predict whether humanity will leave behind all the minor superstitions we follow today, or whether a whole new wave of magical thinking will have erupted throughout human society.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Element Books Ltd (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862045720
• ISBN-13: 978-1862045729
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #922,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Desmond Morris was born in 1928. Educated at Birmingham and Oxford universities, he became the Curator of Mammals at London Zoo in 1959, a post he held for eight years.

In 1967 he published The Naked Ape which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and has changed the way we view our own species forever.

An accomplished artist, TV presenter, film maker and writer, Desmond Morris's books have been published in over thirty-six countries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, March 25, 2000

By 

lauren Tarbel (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body Guards: Protective Amulets & Charms (Hardcover)

The book, Body Guards: Protective Amulets and Charms, written by Desmond Morris is an absolutely enchanting view on the healing and protective beliefs of many cultures around the world. If you are interested in the mystical properties of protective amulets, crystals, religious symbols, ect. then this book would be a wonderful addition to your home library. The section in the book concerning the protective properties, history, and meaning of many religious symbols was very facinating, many of the artifacts shown I had never even heard of before. The jewelry shows a fine example of design and style, the craftsmanship of some of these adornments is stunning. This book will inspire you to search out new methods of healing and you might find a new found respect for the beliefs of others all over the world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Photos and information, not "Woo woo", February 28, 2010

By 

Terry Weiss "Mystery Lover" (Corvallis, OR U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Body Guards: Protective Amulets & Charms (Hardcover)

When I began searching for ideas and images to add talismans and amulets to my artwork, I searched a number of books and settled on two. This is one of the two. Many of the books out there have a lot of text and some line drawings, but I wanted color and clear photos as I'm visual - and I want to use the ideas in visual art. I have found this book as helpful as any book out there. I checked it out of the library, and bought it right away and have been very happy with it. Don't worry that it's about witchcraft - that is absolutely not the point of this book. It's informative about the various ways that we humans have used images and objects to protect us, for luck, and sometimes to injure others - but rarely the latter. Superstition is not a silly thing - it's part of being human and has been from pre-history. Some of it is religious in nature, or became religious in nature. Some might say that religious images are superstition, and vice versa. The point is not religion versus superstition, it's a serious look at the objects that we humans have found comforting or helpful. I highly recommend it to any artist who wants to add something iconic to his work.

5.0 out of 5 stars Bodyguards, January 23, 2011

By 

mollymoocher - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Body Guards: Protective Amulets & Charms (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book. It is filled with interesting facts about superstitions old and new. It Is easy to read. Do you want to know how the cross became popular? That plus many more every day symbols are descried and explained.