Why read Tragic Spirits?

Book cover of Tragic Spirits: Shamanism, Memory, and Gender in Contemporary Mongolia

Book description

The collapse of socialism at the end of the twentieth century brought devastating changes to Mongolia. Economic shock therapy - an immediate liberalization of trade and privatization of publicly owned assets - quickly led to impoverishment, especially in rural parts of the country, where Tragic Spirits takes place. Following the…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Tragic Spirits as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Oyungerel Tsedevdamba

Author

Many people became shamans. Suddenly. Was it related to democracy and freedom and the end of cultural censorship in Mongolia, or was it related to the growing magical energy of some localities? Mandukhai, a Mongolian anthropologist tries to find an answer to such a phenomenon and discovers that shamans are related not just to magic, but to the tragic past of Mongolia’s rural communities. This is a serious read for those interested in history, political influence on indigenous culture, anthropology, magic, gender, and Mongolia’s nomadic lifestyle.

From Oyungerel's list on The best books that were banned, or based on stories forbidden to be told.