- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Imprint Unknown; 1 edition (14 Nov 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0028642368
- ISBN-13: 978-0028642369
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 18.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,084,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Voodoo is a religion of charms and rituals intended to empower life and bring good fortune to those who practice it. It is a deeply spiritual religion that evokes spirits that believers recognize as a part of nature. Voodoo has gotten a bum rap from Hollywood and horror novelists; this book will separate the fact from the fiction, the myth from the reality, tracing voodoo's roots back to its African origins to its full development in the West Indies. Author Shannon R. Turlington will explore the secret and mysterious voodoo rites and rituals, and the charms and spells (such as the ever-popular and voodoo doll) associated with voodoo and its even more mysterious cousin, Santeria. Additionally, practical advice will be offered for those who would like
About the Author
Shannon R. Turlington is the author of more than 20 books, including the entertaining and comprehensive Do You Voodoo? which was the culmination of her very popular website of the same name. She is also the author of The Everything Kids Monster Book, to be published in 2002. She has been studying Vodou, Lukumi, and other alternative religions for many years; much of what she has learned can be found in this book. She lives in North Carolina with her dog, Delirium.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Despite the patronising name, this is actually a very good book. While it doesn't go into a lot of depth it provides a good, factual overview of Vodou and the Lwa.
Before you would have to have read 5 or 6 books to get what is in here, and even then you would have been confused by the conflictions and contradictions.
Unlike a lot of mass market books it doesn't suggest that 'you too can do voodoo magic', it tells the truth which scores it a lot of points for me.
Before you would have to have read 5 or 6 books to get what is in here, and even then you would have been confused by the conflictions and contradictions.
Unlike a lot of mass market books it doesn't suggest that 'you too can do voodoo magic', it tells the truth which scores it a lot of points for me.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had a look at this book today while sitting at my local bookshop. I almost spilled my coffee when I noticed what this book was - 30% of the information are taken from Leah Gordon's "The Book of Vodou", 65% are taken from the webpages of a woman called Mambo Racine (who will sell initiation into Vodou to anyone who has the right amount of money) and the remaining 5% of the book are taken from cheap Hollywood movies. This book is a cheap rip-off! I just can't believe that some people recommand this book as "Fundamental Basics"
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Well written, nice overview that shatters misconceptions.
13 July 2004
Format:Paperback
I didn't know anything about voodoo before reading this book besides the stereotypes I've been fed through Hollywood.
This book explains the history of a maligned religion thousands of years old, forged by unspeakable human suffering, and practiced in various places today.
The writer has a gift for explaining things clearly, organizing complex content, and writing in an appropriate tone that both respects the religion and knows when to be fun and entertaining.
My personal feeling is that this book is too good to be part of the usually mediocre "Complete Idiot's Guide..." series. It deserves better production and better illustrations.
Those who rail against this book, in my opinion, just have a voodoo ego that causes them to think their personal knowledge is somewhow greater than the author's. If that's so, I dare you to write a better book.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Great read.
1 Nov 2004
Format:Paperback
The compelete Idiot's guide to voodoo .... Don't let that name fool you!
When I first got this book from off of my wishlist I thought: if anything it would be good for a laugh or two.
But, I was very wrong.
This book is a must have for new comers to African based Religons.
Shannon R. Turlington explins in depth about the faith of voodoo, the rites, and the lwa (Voodoo sprits/ansters) but most inportantly this book reveals what voodoo really is, and what it's not.
A profound well rounded belief system of beauty and hope and very much missunderstood to outsiders.
Just because you read a few books on the subject dose not mean you know voodoo, I have read a few books and thought I knew enuff, but now that i've read this book I feel like I truly understand voodoo.
Times have been very rough for the people of haiti and this book tells you the true life horrors that people of Haiti have had to endure for hundreds of years, up untill the late 1980's. In a poor contrary, filled with disease and poverty, there's hope, there's honoer,pride and help... With VooDoo being the beacon of comfort and safety for hattie.
Keep in mind- this book explains voodoo in a whole new light.
It also teaches you the difference between new orleans voodoo and voodoo in Hattie.
If you're looking for spells on the subject matter try Voodoo and Hoodoo by jim haskins.
The compelete Idiots guide to voodoo is the best book (and I dont use that turm losely) for anyone willing to expanded thair minds a great deal. Just from reading this boko i've had many questions from people and i've been able to answer them with truth and understanding.
Don't miss out on this wonderfuly writen book.
Reasons why i voted four stars:
Shannon R. Turlington becomes repetitive in some of the chapters, she covers things she's already said. You may get bored with this, but not so much you'll want to stop reading for the time being.
She also talks about Lcumi/Santeria in the book, how its a 2ed rate religion...Yet, the Fon people "adopted" some of the Yourba gods (Shango and Ogun from Ogoo, Orunla and Ehsu make up Papa Legba) being in lucumi, i did not take to kindly to that.
Happy reading!
Ashe!
When I first got this book from off of my wishlist I thought: if anything it would be good for a laugh or two.
But, I was very wrong.
This book is a must have for new comers to African based Religons.
Shannon R. Turlington explins in depth about the faith of voodoo, the rites, and the lwa (Voodoo sprits/ansters) but most inportantly this book reveals what voodoo really is, and what it's not.
A profound well rounded belief system of beauty and hope and very much missunderstood to outsiders.
Just because you read a few books on the subject dose not mean you know voodoo, I have read a few books and thought I knew enuff, but now that i've read this book I feel like I truly understand voodoo.
Times have been very rough for the people of haiti and this book tells you the true life horrors that people of Haiti have had to endure for hundreds of years, up untill the late 1980's. In a poor contrary, filled with disease and poverty, there's hope, there's honoer,pride and help... With VooDoo being the beacon of comfort and safety for hattie.
Keep in mind- this book explains voodoo in a whole new light.
It also teaches you the difference between new orleans voodoo and voodoo in Hattie.
If you're looking for spells on the subject matter try Voodoo and Hoodoo by jim haskins.
The compelete Idiots guide to voodoo is the best book (and I dont use that turm losely) for anyone willing to expanded thair minds a great deal. Just from reading this boko i've had many questions from people and i've been able to answer them with truth and understanding.
Don't miss out on this wonderfuly writen book.
Reasons why i voted four stars:
Shannon R. Turlington becomes repetitive in some of the chapters, she covers things she's already said. You may get bored with this, but not so much you'll want to stop reading for the time being.
She also talks about Lcumi/Santeria in the book, how its a 2ed rate religion...Yet, the Fon people "adopted" some of the Yourba gods (Shango and Ogun from Ogoo, Orunla and Ehsu make up Papa Legba) being in lucumi, i did not take to kindly to that.
Happy reading!
Ashe!
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
That's the point
16 Jan 2002
Format:Paperback
I have to agree with the first review of this book (the person that actually read it). True, you cannot learn all there is about a religion from a book, however in this book, Shannon Turlington has done an excellent job of mapping it out. I think that anyone who turns to a book as their first stop in researching a new found faith is making an excellent choice. For those who are genuinely interested, I think that this book will do much to fill their head with more questions and curiosity about this religion. Additionally, I think it does an excellent job dispelling myths typically associated with this religion. Please, read the book before you decide its bad, its quite a good book!
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