Honestly I had forgotten I snagged this to look at — it’s been so long that I just went out and bought a copy now that it’s available. This subject is dear to my heart and deeply understudied, and I cannot wait to dive in!

Ptacin writes with a warmth and personal touch that made the book feel confessional and intimate. Based on the description, I was expecting a more straight-on history of American Spiritualism, but I was pleased with the personal narrative aspects as well as the fact-based sections. Sometimes the shift from historical retelling to personal experience felt a little abrupt, but overall the flow was smooth and kept me reading. I appreciate how the book has a distinct point of view without insisting that a reader draw the same conclusions that the author has reached. I will be recommending this book to the people who browse the 133s and similar areas.

I enjoyed learning about the history of spiritualism more than I actually enjoyed the stories from camp Etna. Because of this, I wish the author had gone more in depth with the history behind certain practices. Personal preference though. All in all, a decent book which gave me material to add into my lesson in anthropology on belief systems.

Interesting study of the history of spiritualism, and introduction to today’s spiritualists. Worth a read but just the tiniest bit dry.