Bøker av Gary Edson

Investigates the ways in which thought and belief have inspired collective human endeavours and traditions. The text brings the act of thinking into clear focus, outlining its effect on civic development while exploring the history of cultural epistemology.

The ancient practice of shamanism touches many cultures and spiritual philosophies. This book looks at the beliefs and practices centered on the shaman, a person believed to have powers to heal and communicate with the spirit world. It also explores shamanism and its associated myths, artifacts, and legends.

For at least 20,000 years, masking has been a mark of cultural evolution and an indication of magical-religious sophistication in society. Placing the mask in the broader context of the evolution of humanity, this book argues that the mask itself should not be assessed in the service of any single function.