Shamans Among Us: Schizophrenia, Shamanism and the Evolutionary Origins of Religion

by Joseph Polimeni

Schizophrenia is one of the most enigmatic human experiences. While it can cause terrible distress, it doesn't fit the mold of a classic medical disease. In Shamans Among Us, Joseph Polimeni shows that today's schizophrenia patients are no less than the modern manifestation of tribal shamans, people vital to the success of early human cultures. Spanning human history and including discussions of evolution, the definition of disease, and the nature of psychosis, Shamans Among Us is the most detailed and comprehensive evolutionary theory yet assembled to explain a specific psychiatric diagnosis. "Joseph Polimeni's scholarly book challenges several traditional concepts of both evolutionary biology and medicine. I strongly recommend it to all those who dare to think outside the box." — Martin Brüne, MD, author of Textbook of Evolutionary Psychiatry.

Genres: Psychology

287 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2012

Reviews

[Kenneth Myers]

For three years I lived with a schizophrenic, and I read everything I could get my hands on in an attempt to help and understand her. She had a special relationship with shamanic drugs, particularly DMT. Its effects on her were something astounding; whereas most people who do DMT couch-lock and go to la-la land for their visions, she was able to walk and talk in both worlds simultaneously, conveying information from her experiences real-time, and putting questions to the gods for those present. She acted very much as a conduit, and her visions were rich and powerful. She stepped into a shamanic role, and the troublesome symptoms of schizophrenia disappeared.

This book explains my Allison, and I am completely sold on its thesis: That schizophrenia doesn't have the etiology of a normal disease, and schizophrenics appear about once in a Dunbar number, and that they evolved to be our small tribal bands' councilors, their brains always awash in shamanic drugs.

[Tabytha Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info

Need more books exploring this topic. Very informative and thought provoking. Despite arguing a point, author explains his reasoning well and avoids bias.

[Philippa Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely inspirational read! Well done! Very informative and detailed. Great subjects!

[Emiliano Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

La idea de que la esquizofrenia (que sin duda hoy causa malestar a la gran mayoría de personas que la padecen) sea un vestigio evolutivo de las personas que en su momento hubieran cumplido el rol de shamanes, es fascinante y creo que apunta a que aunque la esquizofrenia no es algo a curarse, definitivamente podemos entender y acomodarla mejor.