The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition

Library Journal

Unlike many of Llewellyn's other titles, this is neither a manual of practices nor a survey of world shamanic traditions. Rather, drawing on current research in the broad context of religious and healing practices, it seeks to reexamine shamanism as a whole. Walsh (psychiatry, philosophy, anthropology & religious studies, Univ. of California, Irvine; Essential Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices) argues persuasively that shamans are not as a class psychotic, epileptic, or complete charlatans. He does a passable job describing shamanic journeying, healing, and interactions with spirits as well as considering psychological mechanisms that could be at work. But his book would have been stronger had he included examples from a wider range of traditions, and his coverage of psychedelic drug use, "psi" powers, and other topics weakens the work, as he only tenuously connects them to shamanism. In the end, many questions are left unanswered owing to lack of research. Nonetheless, few works have attempted such a broad survey of shamanism, and Walsh's perspective is unique. A worthwhile addition to subject collections in academic or large public libraries.
—Eric Norton