Man and His SuperstitionsCarveth Read1925

The superstitious instinct has been inherent in the human character since primitive tribal hunting parties relied on spiritual guidance to achieve a successful killing.The Medicine Man,who could perform magic, communicate with the spirits and interpret their signs, became established as the most powerful man in the society.

Today, the unusual and unexpected are still often regarded as prophetic signs or omens,and modern societies retain the need to connect dramatic events with a preceding `warning'. This book traces the origins of superstition and in doing so discovers a strong relationship between animism,magic and the imagination.

This is a fascinating,lucid journey through the history and compleity of the human mind,with its overwhelming desire to presage the future and make sense of the past.