{"product_id":"a-history-of-mysticism-hardcover","title":"A History of Mysticism — World Traditions From Shamanism On","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the one you buy when you want the whole map. Richard H. Jones opens with the nature of mystical experience itself, then walks through the world's traditions in turn — Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism — and keeps going into New Age mysticism, secular mysticism, and what science has made of the whole business.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt begins earlier than most surveys dare to, in shamanism and the early use of psychedelics, and it ends with an appendix on the misunderstandings that cling to the subject. 524 pages, written plainly enough for a general reader and rigorously enough for a student of religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e, 524 pages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Richard H. Jones, independent scholar and researcher\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublished:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 01, 2024\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.31 x 9 x 6 in\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCovers:\u003c\/strong\u003e shamanism and early psychedelics, Greek philosophy, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, New Age and secular mysticism\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes an appendix\u003c\/strong\u003e on popular misunderstandings of mystical experience\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eHow to read it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRead chapter one first\u003c\/strong\u003e — it sets out what is meant by a mystical experience before any tradition is discussed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThen jump.\u003c\/strong\u003e The tradition chapters stand alone; go to the one you care about.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse the appendix early.\u003c\/strong\u003e It clears out assumptions you may not know you are carrying.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep it as a reference.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 524 pages it earns shelf space between readings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eWhat this book covers, by section\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px; border-bottom:2px solid #2c3a37;\"\u003eSection\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"text-align:left; padding:8px; border-bottom:2px solid #2c3a37;\"\u003eGround covered\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eOpening\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eThe nature of mystical experiences\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003ePrehistory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eShamanism and the early use of psychedelics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eAncient Greece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eThe possible role of mystical experience in Socrates and Plato\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eWorld religions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eJudaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003ePresent day\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eNew Age mysticism, secular mysticism, the scientific study of mystical experience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003eAppendix\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px; border-bottom:1px solid #d8d8d8;\"\u003ePopular misunderstandings of mysticism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,#000D0B,#40514E); color:#f3f3f3; padding:20px 24px; border-radius:8px; margin:28px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#c9a96e; margin-top:0;\"\u003e✨ Temple Tip — start with the tradition you already know\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom:0;\"\u003eRead the chapter on the religion you were raised in or know best, whatever your relationship to it now. Seeing familiar ground described in comparative language is the fastest way into everything that follows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eQuestions we get asked\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eIs it academic?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eIt is written in a clear, accessible style and is suitable for general readers as well as students of religion and philosophy.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eWhich traditions are covered?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eJudaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Daoism, plus shamanic prehistory, Greek philosophy, New Age and secular mysticism.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eDoes it discuss psychedelics?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eYes — the early use of psychedelics is treated as part of mysticism's prehistory, alongside shamanism.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eHas the author written on this before?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003eYes. His previous books include An Introduction to the Study of Mysticism and Philosophy of Mysticism: Raids on the Ineffable, both from SUNY Press.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; padding:10px 0; font-weight:600; color:#2c3a37;\"\u003eHow long is it?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 12px 0;\"\u003e524 pages in hardcover, 9 x 6 inches.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is it academic?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"It is written in a clear, accessible style and is suitable for general readers as well as students of religion and philosophy.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Which traditions are covered?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Daoism, plus shamanic prehistory, Greek philosophy, New Age and secular mysticism.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Does it discuss psychedelics?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes \u0026mdash; the early use of psychedelics is treated as part of mysticism's prehistory, alongside shamanism.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Has the author written on this before?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. His previous books include An Introduction to the Study of Mysticism and Philosophy of Mysticism: Raids on the Ineffable, both from SUNY Press.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How long is it?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"524 pages in hardcover, 9 x 6 inches.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe whole map, in one volume. \u003cstrong\u003e#TempleOfDesire\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54413218185553,"sku":"9781438497150","price":249.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1063\/0194\/8241\/files\/bK3aFUzE49781438497150.webp?v=1785076750","url":"https:\/\/www.templeofdesire.com\/products\/a-history-of-mysticism-hardcover","provider":"Temple of Desire","version":"1.0","type":"link"}