The vast continent of Africa is a land of enormous diversity. Bever explores the history of Africa from the origin of one of the oldest civilizations in the world to the present-day challenges of race relations, politics, and economic development. The book covers many of the forces that have shaped this continent, such as the influence of Islam, the consequences of European rule, and the political contributions of native African peoples. Africa's independence from European colonial rule is also discussed, as are the remarkable events leading to the end of Apartheid.

This collection of essays considers the place of magic in the modern world, first by exploring the ways in which modernity has been defined in explicit opposition to magic and superstition, and then by illuminating how modern proponents of magic have worked to legitimize their practices through an overt embrace of evolving forms such as esotericism and supernaturalism.

Taking a two-track approach, this book explores the complex dynamics of the construction of the modern self and its relation to the modern preoccupation with magic. Essays examine how modern "rational" consciousness is...