Aproximadamente cinco millones de Hispano Americanos practican la SanterÃa en la actualidad. En esta obra Migene González-Wippler nos presenta los resultados de profundas investigaciones y sus experiencias personales sobre esta mágica religión. Aquà se describen los altares de los orishas (Dioses); los santeros (Sacerdotes); las conchas divinas utilizadas para consultar a los dioses (Diloggún); las pócimas a base de hierbas con propiedades mágicas y curativas (Ewe); asà como las ceremonias practicadas ―incluyendo el sacrificio de animales―. El impactante material fotográfico junto con las entrevistas únicas realizadas con lÃderes santeros; nos muestran aspectos de esta religión rara vez expuestos ante el público. Este libro proporciona el conocimiento general sobre esta antigua religión aparentemente desaparecida de la sociedad moderna. ENGLISH TRANSLATION Approximately five million Hispanic Americans practice Santeria today. In this work Migene González-Wippler presents the results of deep research and her personal experiences of this magical religion. Here she describes the altars of the orishas (gods); the santeros (priests); the divine shells used to consult the gods (Diloggún); herbal potions with magic and healing properties (Ewe); as well as ceremonies practiced including the slaughter of animals. The shocking photographic material together with the unique interviews with santeros leaders show us aspects of this religion rarely exposed to the public. This book provides general insight into this ancient religion that has apparently disappeared from modern society.
#326925 in Books New Press; The 1993-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.26 x 1.25 x 5.60l; 1.24 #File Name: 1565840399479 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy DanielWithout a doubt one of the finest books I have ever read.There are; of course; more objective accounts of this period; and those should be read; but this is not that book; and it does not pretend to be that book.The biases of this book are those of its interviewees - the widows; war criminals; and veterans. This book is one-sided because it deals exclusively with Japanese subjects; and in this respect I found it wholly unique. I became physically ill as the Japanese army doctor described vivisecting Chinese; the same with the account of Unit 731. Far from shifting blame; this book focuses blame on the people who ordered and perpetrated ghastly crimes.Ordinary Japanese - both those in the field and those at home - suffered during the war. This suffering; however; is not the focus of the book. The focus of Japan At War are the experiences of the interviewees; both for good and ill. Who would not be moved by the account of a family whose infant son was burned to death during the Tokyo firebombing? But does that mean this bombing was unjustified - of course not.There are hundreds of accounts of the Pacific War and I found this one to be most illuminating because it focused on a non-Allied perspective. In this respect it enabled me to understand the whole much better than before. War is never a singular act; even less world wars. And learning what the enemy experienced does not justify their crimes. In the West this moral outrage - the fixation upon Japan's brutality - has itself been used to excuse actions that; had the Allies lost; would have been deemed war crimes; such as attempts to starve the home islands and the intentional bombing of civilian targets. In contrast to the reviewer; I do not think it is only the Japanese who have yet to come to terms with the Pacific War; I think it is the Allies as well who have erected their own national myths. These myths will not be demolished until both sides speak.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A definitive historical work that still manages to be readable for the lay readerBy GromerThis is a well-written; balanced; and readable book. In fact; since it consists of storytelling by people from all backgrounds; it isn't boring like most WWII history books. It's also very well edited and organized; so it's not just a hodge-podge" anthology".The authors had a mission: they sought out and recorded Japanese survivor stories in the 1980s before all these people passed on and we lose their memories. This book has been cited many times by other books on this subject; testifying to the enduring significance and depth of this one-of-a-kind oral history project.You think you know about this subject; but you really don't until you read these contrasting eyewitness accounts of the Japanese experience of the Pacific War.Japanese right wing nationalists will tell you this book is all made-up; and that all these painstakingly-recorded oral testimonies are all "fiction". Unless you are one of them; you would find this book a valuable addition to your library and a reference you would return to again and again. Read it; visit the Yakusuni Shrine war museum; and be prepared to be blown away by the complex narratives of the war.People outside of Asia make fun of the current news headlines about the continuing feud within East Asia among neighboring countries. If Europe has healed from WWII; why can't the East Asians move on? Well; these people simply aren't well-read and well-educated. If you read this book; you would know a lot more about an important era that continues to shape Asia today.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. but possibly one of my favorite books; nowBy S RaleighPurchased for a college class; but possibly one of my favorite books; now. This is not for the faint of heart. It is a serious collection of interviews on the Japanese perspective of World War II. The authors had the daunting task of collecting these interviews from those who lived through the war; in the 1980's when Japan was trying to bury the war behind them. This collection is harrowing and fascinating. There were times I could not put it down.
