Magic: A Very Short Introduction -

: Looking at the psychology behind magical belief.

In his book Magic: A Very Short Introduction , Professor Owen Davies explores magic not as a set of secret tricks, but as a complex global phenomenon that has shaped human history, science, and religion for millennia.

: Assessing its role in contemporary life. Shopping Options This book is widely available at several major retailers: Flipkart : ₹310 ₹262 (15% off) Amazon India : ₹325 Atlantic Books : ₹245 Magic - Owen Davies - Oxford University Press Magic: A Very Short Introduction

: Examining how magic was recorded in grimoires and actually performed.

: Far from disappearing, magic remains a real force for millions today, providing remedies for poverty or misfortune and appearing in modern contexts like neopaganism and even capitalism. Table of Contents Overview The book follows a chronological and thematic progression: : Looking at the psychology behind magical belief

: Davies argues that magic, science, and religion are inextricably linked . For example, in the medieval era, "natural magic" was seen as a legitimate way to unlock God's secrets in the material world.

: Tracing magic from its Persian roots (the magi ) to the Roman and Medieval eras. Shopping Options This book is widely available at

: The book covers universal traits like "sympathetic magic"—the idea that things once in contact continue to influence each other—which social scientists use to categorize cross-cultural practices.