Shaman [Paperback]

Piers Vitebsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2001

A richly illustrated guide to the hidden world of the Shaman through the ages, from the snowscapes of Siberia to the jungles of the Amazon.

Editorial Reviews

Review

New Age and ecological movements have recently focused much interest on shamanic practices, often in a way which separates them from the physical and cultural circumstances from which they arose. This is a well-informed, well presented and thoughtful survey of the roles, rituals and beliefs of a representative number of shamanic peoples throughout the world, placed in the context of a wider culture. Vitebsky has impressive academic credentials and the scope of the book is geographically and ethnically wide. A crucial extra dimension is added by the subtleties of understanding which are evidence of extensive fieldwork, living with shamanic peoples throughout the world. He has a very even handed approach to the representation of shamanic powers and neither promotes nor ridicules the practitioners. The shaman appears as an integral part of a society and his power is a function of the collective belief of that society. In this way, Vitebsky retains seriousness and avoids a superfluous exoticizing of the subject. The Shaman is a beginner's guide to the diverse cultures, ancient and modern, that share a world view incorporating a number of common features that may be termed shamanistic. It also examines the influence shamanism has had on orthodox religions and on Western Art and the development of the shaman's role in response to external modernizing influences. The layout is very attractive, with many colour photographs, illustrations and maps. There are also many short anecdotes, separate from the main text, which make the book ideal for dipping into and it has an extensive reference section. It will not teach you how to contact your guides, or speak with animal helper spirits, or travel to alternative dimensions, but The Shaman may help you to understand the lives and beliefs of different people here on earth, and that's not a bad start. (Kirkus UK)

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Duncan Baird Publishers (August 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903296188
• ISBN-13: 978-1903296189
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #771,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Edifying, Electric, May 28, 2010

By 

Jeff Winke (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shaman (Paperback)

There are three reasons to like this book:

[1] It deals with the mystical and magical. As Western culture adults there is far too little (if any) to believe in that isn't dry, processed, empirically proven, and documented to death. The shaman, aliens, voo doo, and crop circles represent the mercurial possibilities that deserve space in our thinking.
[2] The author, Piers Vitebsky, appears to have exhaustively researched the topic and presents all angles including worldview, traditions, becoming a shaman, their clients, and understanding how their practices fit into a culture. Vitebsky covers practitioners from all continents and corners of the planet.
[3] The independent publisher, Duncan Baird Publishers in London, did a great job with the book production, making it enjoyable to hold, page through, and read. They claim to be "...committed to innovation, design, editorial excellence and imagination, creating unique books for today's readership." And with The Shaman, they fulfilled the promise. The book is richly illustrated with photos and graphics, and there are tons of sidebars filled with anecdotes, explanations, historical incidents, and definitions. The page paperstock is heavy, which is great for the illustrations and provides the tactile sensation of an art book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book!, March 20, 2009

By 

H. Quade "harryq" (Baltimore,MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shaman (Paperback)

I just got this book along with another on Native Americans very cheap at B&N on sale, and looked through them before buying them. So I bought them, and found this book to be very informitive and enjoy the stories and photos in it. This book is high quality, easy to follow and remeber, full of colorful photos and pages the help following a long easy, and tells all what one needs to know about shamans and their practice. I found this book to be highly informitive, and best so far I read. It tells about many shamans all over the world, their beliefs and pratice. One does not need to have to buy so many books to understand and know about shamans, much is right here in this book.