Out of This World: Otherworldly Journeys from Gilgamesh to Albert Einstein

This is the most accessible book written by one of the greatest scholars of the subject, who was stolen from us at too young an age. Backed up by footnotes to a wide range of scholarship, Couliano demonstrates his learning at the same time that he amazes the reader by explaining it all so well. This book will help you become familiar with many important figures and concepts in religious studies--at a detailed and thoughtful level. It is also an excellent sourcebook for spiritual seekers, mystics and occultists who desire a convenient solid academic treatment of the highlights of the historical topic. The treatment is not merely dry and historical, for Couliano had a knack for bringing the mystical, mythical and magical to life. We can only lament his tragic passing and hope that his readers will pick up on the topics he treated so well and write the books that he would have written. An economical and deeply intellectual contribution to any library on religious studies or esotericism.

This book, written by well known religious scholar I.P. Couliano, provides a wonderful background to the shamanic journey and how it can be found within all societies. He does a very nice cross cultural survey of Shamanism (and relatd concepts) in the early part of the book, showing the similarities of belief in the Americas, Siberia, Melanesia and elsewhere, as well as in Africa and Australia. From there he goes on to show the otherworldly journeys of the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Chinese Taoists, Buddhists, Iranian mystics, Greek Medicine Men and Hebrew Qabbalists. Remarkable intellectuals and visionaries fill out the last couple chapters, including Neo-Platonic philosopher Plotonius, the Prophet Mohammad and Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy. Over all, this is perhaps the greatest non-culture specific survey of the Shamanic journey available. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in Shamanism, religious experiences and mysticism in general check out this book. Considering how widely varied Shamanism is (incorporating everything from Siberian and Polynesian religions to the ecstasies of Voudon and Santeria to Sufi mysticism and beyond), it might be a good beginning book.

WOw!This is very important to read,especially that this was Culianu's last book to be published. WHen he wrote it, he was receiveing threating phone calls from somebody(?), and if you think a little bit.. Out of this world....hmmm? What does that mean??It necessarily means that he knew that he was going to die?Well if you want to know more about Couliano's death(the first case in USA of a teacher killed in this way) read Ted Anton's book. Anyway, this book is a must read for anybody interested in the meta's(metaphysics,metempsychosis,etc)or in the study of religions .