The Iranian Metaphysicals

“Beautifully written and argued, this powerful book turns our full attention to the rationality of enchantment in the modern world.” ―Courtney Bender, Columbia University Winner of the Vinson Sutlive Book Prize, Anthropology Department of William & Mary Winner of the Albert Hourani Book Award, Middle East Studies Association What do the occult sciences, séances with the souls of the dead, and appeals to saintly powers have to do with rationality? Since the late nineteenth century, modernizin