The History of Magic

<p><b>A <i>Telegraph</i> Book of the Year </b><br><br><b>A </b><b>remarkable, </b><b>unprecedented account of the role of magic in cultures both ancient and modern -- from the first known horoscope to the power of tattoos.</b><br><br><b>'Fascinating, original, excellent' Simon Sebag Montefiore</b><br><b>______________________</b><br><br>Three great strands of practice and belief run through human history: science, religion and magic. But magic - the idea that we have a connection with the universe - has developed a bad reputation.<br><br>It has been with us for millennia - from the curses and charms of ancient Greek, Roman and Jewish magic, to the shamanistic traditions of Eurasia, indigenous America and Africa, and even quantum physics today. Even today seventy-five per cent of the Western world holds some belief in magic, whether snapping wishbones, buying lottery tickets or giving names to inanimate objects.<br><br>Drawing on his decades of research, with incredible breadth and authority, Professor Chris Gosden provides a timely history of human thought and the role it has played in shaping civilization, and how we might use magic to rethink our understanding of the world.<br><b>______________________</b><br><br>'This is <b>an extraordinary work of learning</b>, written with an exhilarating lightness of touch . . . <b>It is essential reading</b>.' <b>Francis Pryor, author of <i>Britain BC, Britain AD </i>and <i>The Fens</i></b><br><br><b>'Without an unfascinating page' </b><i>Scotsman</i><br><br>'Chris Gosden shows <b>how magic explores the connections between human beings and the universe</b> in ways different from religion or science, yet deserving of respect' <b>Professor John Barton, author of <i>A History of The Bible</i></b></p> <p><b>A <i>Telegraph</i> Book of the Year </b><br><br><b>A </b><b>remarkable, </b><b>unprecedented account of the role of magic in cultures both ancient and modern -- from the first known horoscope to the power of tattoos.</b><br><br><b>'Fascinating, original, excellent' Simon Sebag Montefiore</b><br><b>______________________</b><br><br>Three great strands of practice and belief run through human history: science, religion and magic. But magic - the idea that we have a connection with the universe - has developed a bad reputation.<br><br>It has been with us for millennia - from the curses and charms of ancient Greek, Roman and Jewish magic, to the shamanistic traditions of Eurasia, indigenous America and Africa, and even quantum physics today. Even today seventy-five per cent of the Western world holds some belief in magic, whether snapping wishbones, buying lottery tickets or giving names to inanimate objects.<br><br>Drawing on his decades of research, with incredible breadth and authority, Professor Chris Gosden provides a timely history of human thought and the role it has played in shaping civilization, and how we might use magic to rethink our understanding of the world.<br><b>______________________</b><br><br>'This is <b>an extraordinary work of learning</b>, written with an exhilarating lightness of touch . . . <b>It is essential reading</b>.' <b>Francis Pryor, author of <i>Britain BC, Britain AD </i>and <i>The Fens</i></b><br><br><b>'Without an unfascinating page' </b><i>Scotsman</i><br><br>'Chris Gosden shows <b>how magic explores the connections between human beings and the universe</b> in ways different from religion or science, yet deserving of respect' <b>Professor John Barton, author of <i>A History of The Bible</i></b></p>