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Book Synopsis

An Oxford professor of archaeology explores the unique history of magicthe oldest and most neglected strand of human behavior and its resurgence today

Three great strands of belief run through human history: Religion is the relationship with one god or many gods, masters of our lives and destinies. Science distances us from the world, turning us into observers and collectors of knowledge. And magic is direct human participation in the universe: we have influence on the world around us, and the world has influence on us.

Over the last few centuries, magic has developed a bad reputationthanks to the unsavory tactics of shady practitioners, and to a successful propaganda campaign on the part of religion and science, which denigrated magic as backward, irrational, and primitive. In Magic, however, the Oxford professor of archaeology Chris Gosden restores magic to its essential place in the history of the worldrevealing it to be an enduring ele

Magic A History

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    A Paperback / softback by Chris Gosden

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 27 Oct 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Picador USA
      Published 12 October 2021
      ISBN-13 9781250800152
      978-1250800152
      ISBN-10 1250800153
      Also in:
      Social and cultural history Social and cultural anthropology History of religion

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      An Oxford professor of archaeology explores the unique history of magicthe oldest and most neglected strand of human behavior and its resurgence today

      Three great strands of belief run through human history: Religion is the relationship with one god or many gods, masters of our lives and destinies. Science distances us from the world, turning us into observers and collectors of knowledge. And magic is direct human participation in the universe: we have influence on the world around us, and the world has influence on us.

      Over the last few centuries, magic has developed a bad reputationthanks to the unsavory tactics of shady practitioners, and to a successful propaganda campaign on the part of religion and science, which denigrated magic as backward, irrational, and primitive. In Magic, however, the Oxford professor of archaeology Chris Gosden restores magic to its essential place in the history of the worldrevealing it to be an enduring ele

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