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Human Animals
Unlock the mystery of transformation and the human pull toward the animal world. This nonfiction exploration delves into legends, folklore, and myths about shape-shifting and metamorphosis, from lycanthropy to animal trials and beyond. Drawing on a wide range of cultures, it examines why stories of beasts and beings endure and what they reveal about imagination, belief, and the mind.
Through careful discussion and rich examples, the book traces methods of transformation, the role of ritual and suggestion, and the age-old human fascination with the unknown. It asks big questions without overselling easy answers, inviting readers to consider how belief, culture, and psychology intertwine in tales of beasts, magic, and mystery.
Explanations of animal metamorphosis across different cultures and traditions
Discussions of transformation methods, including magical, magical-realist, and psychological angles
Connections between folklore, ritual, and the power of suggestion
A concluding look at how belief shapes perception and the allure of the unknown
Ideal for readers of folklore, myth, and cultural history who enjoy thoughtful, evidence-based inquiry into why humans tell stories of transformation.
Through careful discussion and rich examples, the book traces methods of transformation, the role of ritual and suggestion, and the age-old human fascination with the unknown. It asks big questions without overselling easy answers, inviting readers to consider how belief, culture, and psychology intertwine in tales of beasts, magic, and mystery.
Explanations of animal metamorphosis across different cultures and traditions
Discussions of transformation methods, including magical, magical-realist, and psychological angles
Connections between folklore, ritual, and the power of suggestion
A concluding look at how belief shapes perception and the allure of the unknown
Ideal for readers of folklore, myth, and cultural history who enjoy thoughtful, evidence-based inquiry into why humans tell stories of transformation.
Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2018
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