"Michael Taussig's new book, Corpse Magic, is animated by the ubiquity of violence across the world. Focusing on state-sanctioned violence in Colombia in the context of gangs, guerrilla warfare, and police action, and in the US, in the form of mass shootings and the killing of Black Americans by the police, Taussig examines the effects of violence not just on its victims, but also and especially on those who inflict it, as well as those who witness and relive it through footage circulating in the media. Taussig analyzes the haunting idea that the act of killing "infects" the killer and spreads outward, and he connects this to a belief he encountered in Colombia, namely that the souls of the slain possess those of their slayers, and that magic must be used on corpses to circumvent this process. Drawing from literature, religion, and philosophy as well as anthropology, Taussig analyzes violence as contagion, one through which the killer and the killed are mutually defined. What kind of power do the dead continue to have? What kind of magic can enact vengeance? What kind, if any, can stop apparently endless cycles of violence? These are only some of the provocative questions raised in this powerful, creative work"-- Provided by publisher.

"Tobacco and its Use in Africa," part of the Fieldiana Popular Series, Anthropology, no. 29, explores the history and cultural significance of tobacco across the African continent. Written by Ralph Linton, Wilfrid Dyson Hambly, and Berthold Laufer, this study, first published in 1929, delves into the diverse ways tobacco has been integrated into various African societies. From its ritualistic applications to its social and economic roles, the book examines the plant's impact on different cultures. The authors draw on extensive research to present a comprehensive overview, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the anthropology of Africa and the global history of tobacco use. This detailed account provides insights into the interactions between cultures and the adoption and adaptation of foreign commodities. A significant contribution to anthropological studies, this book remains relevant for its detailed documentation of historical practices. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This book is a selection of articles by David Zilberman, a prolific author, whose tragic untimely death did not allow to finish many of his undertakings. Zilberman’s work represents a fresh word in the way of philosophizing or philosophy-building and the technique of modal methodology. This book comprises of thirteen independent articles that are not related by content. The point of thematic convergence of these articles is the way they reflect the new way of methodological thinking through the application and benefits of modalization or modal methodology that unfolds unbound possibilities of philosophic elaborations. By shifting constantly from one position to another, Zilberman disclosed the antinomicity of all types of thought. Such an approach led him to outline for the first time his major attempt to start creating not "systems" but "sums" of philosophies so that the philosophical activity would be able to re-emerge on the slopes of such "sums." The book can be used as a starting point of a discussion, especially in study of philosophy. We imagine it can be used in undergraduate classes on World Philosophies or Intercultural Philosophy courses. With that, it can serve as a useful resource for adding intercultural elements into Western-centered courses.