Status Updates From The History of Magic: From ...

I didn’t finish this book because it was hard to get into and I found it boring at times.

It’s kind of too dry for me. I’ll keep listening but I hope it gets better.

This is going to be a long one! 18 hours! I like it so far, it is an interesting academic book.

10/10 would fight my grandmother over the dinner table about this book

Interesting, doesn’t stick to one train of thought and encompasses magic from everywhere on the planet through an archeological lens.

ooo june is venturing outside of her comfort zone of queer fantasy watch me dnf this in like two chapters :')

Take a shot every time Chris refers to the triple Helix of Science, Magic & Religion.

Why are we talking about divine masturbation in this book about magic, Chris Gosden?

(God: An Anatomy was clearly much more academically au courant than I thought.)

Really interesting history into makeup dating from Ice Age periods with comparisons to different cultures over time

I'm so close to finishing this bad boy. I started it back in September for my book club, and it went on hiatus during October and November. It's been really good so far, but I'm ready to feel guilt-free when reading other things.

God this is awful

10

Really interesting look at "magic" throughout human history

I’m taking a break from this book—I marked it as currently reading so I can find my page when I check it out from the library again.

Cool magic is cool

Also read ch 10, modern and future magic.

Some resonates a lot, some feels a little loosely argued. “Triple helix” of science, magic and religion is established, but wishing there was a better distinction between religion and magic. He frequently contrasts magic against science as a foil, but often passes over religion.

Dense and slightly hard to read, but very enjoyable so far.

Steppe was interesting and I feel like Europe will be the most interesting to me so far, being from Europe and all

... reminiscent of all the horses of iceland and what she said in her afterword re: the word shaman ... what a cool coincidence my reading matching up today

that chapter was so boring honestly, until the last 2 pages I nearly cried

ohhhh yes this chapter amped up my interest more... especially Egypt I'm going to get the geraldine pinch book for sure

yes yes yes yes yes ! this is really good so far !!

This is a factual read that is quite information heavy. Not one to read at bedtime.

This book fuckin rules

Returning to this one.

Setting this aside for higher priority books.

Not quite what I expected. Predominantly a history of spiritual symbolism with a focus on animism as spiritual practice, not so much of magic and the occult. Still interesting, though.

I very much enjoyed this detailed if flawed history of magic. The author is clearly an expert in some areas and has needed to rely on other people's archaeological evidence to substantiate his claims. His lack of familiarity with some culture's magic shows. That said a fine overview and an impressive contribution to a growing field.

I have a feeling this is going to be a skim read for now and a more detailed read the more I wonder about a specific area. I would definitely buy this to keep on my "research" shelf for when I have in depth questions.

So far, he's barely past prehistory and early societies. It's been very interesting and well thought, the author paying attention to historical biases. It's obvious his background is in archeology. Yet, I can't imagine he'll have the time to do Magic in modern times justice.