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Occult America: The Secret History Of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation (2009)

by Mitch Horowitz(Favorite Author)

3.34 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0553806750 (ISBN13: 9780553806755)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Bantam

review 1: A bold work attempting to show the little and large strands, some forgotten, that lead into the modern American thinking. Particularly the early American history demonstrates that these subjects and ideas have floated around even before we were a nation. Watching the progress of practice and concepts with his selected and sometimes brief histories proved fascinating for me. The author gives us a view of the major trends from colonial into the mid 20th century. A new insight for me is how these ideas bloomed in the African-American communities and culture.There is hardly room for an exhaustive treatment. Gathering the strands as he did exposed a commonality and forward momentum that, once begun, has only continued to grow.Personally, I was hoping for more on what I interpre... moret as 'occult' matters such as esoteric lodges and magical orders, and less about New Thought blooming into New Age practice of channeling, astrology and social reform.
review 2: I never thought I'd read about Mormonism and Ouija boards in the same text, (or maybe I did), but there you have it. Great tips on voodoo for the practitioner. Fun little stories about the history and roots of several religions, spiritual movements, seances, and other ritualistic fringe fanfare type of stuff. Interesting look back on origins of some things you probably already know a little about anyway. less

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