{"product_id":"stolen-lightning-social-theory-of-magic-by-okeefe","title":"Stolen Lightning: The Social Theory of Magic by Daniel O'Keefe","description":"\u003ch2\u003eStolen Lightning: The Social Theory of Magic by Daniel O'Keefe\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Daniel O'Keefe\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0855204869\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pre-Loved \/ Secondhand — No dust jacket\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA magisterial and landmark work in intellectual history, \u003cem\u003eStolen Lightning\u003c\/em\u003e presents the first truly general and explanatory theory of magic — one that draws on philosophy, sociology, religion, anthropology, history, and psychology to illuminate magic's enduring presence in human life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDaniel O'Keefe argues that magic was once central to human understanding, and that its roots remain alive in the institutions of modern life. He traces how magic helped the human self to emerge, shaped the structures of individuality, and continues to surface — even in a scientific age — as a form of transcendent protest. Yet magic's Pyrrhic victories also obscure our own role in creating the world we inhabit, a tension visible in today's escapist cults and mechanical rituals for self-transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eComparable in scope and ambition to the works of Frazer, Weber, Toynbee, and Freud, this is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the deep magical currents that still run beneath modern civilisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAll items in our Pre-Loved Library are curated vintage or secondhand copies. Expect minor shelf wear, aged pages, or past owner notes—each imperfection adds to the soul and journey of the book.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Martin Robertson \u0026 Co Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43788775817282,"sku":"0855204869","price":89.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0661\/2910\/0866\/files\/9780855204860.jpg?v=1779768938","url":"https:\/\/spiritandjourney.com\/products\/stolen-lightning-social-theory-of-magic-by-okeefe","provider":"Spirit \u0026 Journey","version":"1.0","type":"link"}