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.
: 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.
: 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
: 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.
The book is structured into two main sections— and Practice —to help readers navigate how magic has been defined and used. In his book Magic: A Very Short Introduction
: Tracing magic from its Persian roots (the magi ) to the Roman and Medieval eras.
: Magic is often used as a rhetorical tool. Since the Enlightenment, Western thinkers have frequently labeled magic as "primitive" or "benighted" to distinguish modern progress from earlier human stages. Shopping Options This book is widely available at
: Examining how magic was recorded in grimoires and actually performed.