The book rather nicely talks about the diversity of what “shamanism” is and what it means from an anthropological context as well as an everyday one. The book is step-up not to teach about shamanism but to explain to someone from an outsiders view in an overall and basic sense. The book even mentions how some therapeutic techniques use things which are or could be considered shamanic in their practice to help patients.

What I also liked about the book, is that it recognizes that shamanism is diverse, and that is some places like in parts of Latin America people might use Christian angels or saints rather and spirits and other gods. The book acknowledges the difference between ’new’ shamanism and traditional shamanism but doesn’t give off a sense of ‘one is better or more right then the other.’ At one point it even describes an encounter with a New Age shaman and a Nepalese shaman the former thinking journeying is a wondrous thing while the later finds it terrifying and grim.

The book does use some speculative license in the form a story set back thousands of years ago, but it makes for a nice example as to how it might have been. However even the author notes how many scholars do not like to guess about the practices of ancient people without knowing for certain given the limited evidence and remains which still exist to date.

Its not a perfect book, but it is not bad at all. A good read. ( )