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Mind over Mind: The Anthropology and Psychology of Spirit Possession

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Class's thesis here is that spirit possession is dissociation, similar to hypnosis or various kinds of mental illness, thoug he stresses repeatedly that the derogatory associations of mental illness are inappropriate to the phenomenon of possession. He presents in a page or two near the end of the book, although throughout the book he promises to reveal this theory.

The rest of the book is a general overview of anthropology and pschychology as he sees them. No harm at all in that, but the title didn't indicate that this was the real purpose of the book. Oh, well. He probably knew what he was doing, as I for one wouldn't have read a book dedicated to that topic.

Part of his overview includes a violent criticism of E. O. Wilson and a defense of traditional anthropology, uninformed by biology or evolution. But then, his treatment of that matter reveals, I think, that Wilson is right on, or nearly so. This controversy has been raging in the anthopological community for over two decades, but barring any shocking surprises in the near future, Wilson and his crowd have nearly decisively won.

Read this book if the issues it covers really do concern you. If you are looking for something on spiritual possession, read the last 3-4 pages, and look for something else.