Shamanism refers to spiritual practices that centre on a shaman (from a Manchu-Tungus word “šaman” meaning “the one who knows”) who is capable of entering altered states of consciousness for the purposes of healing, communication with the unseen world, etc. Below are seven great books on shamanism, a practice that remains misunderstood. Some of the books below are quite introductory, while others delve into certain intriguing aspects associated with the ancient practice.

I. Shamans, Healers, and Medicine Men by Holger Kalweit

In my review, I called this book by eminent German ethnologist Holger Kalwait “comprehensive, endlessly perceptive, & inspiring.” Kalwait impressed me with the depth with which he tackles shamanism and its concepts, and with the sheer number of tribal cultures he gives as examples. The author not only provides detailed explanations of shamanic training, testing, competitions, and healing practices, but also ties them to our innate humanity, and the meaning of consciousness and myth.

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