First paragraph: This work must be considered a major work in studies not only of shamanism but also of certain contemporary Muslim cultures. While the term “shamanism” commonly refers to a wide range of practices in various Muslim and non-Muslim parts of the world, a catch-all category for many different cults and belief systems, a certain unity can however, be perceived between the shamanic practices of North Asia and Muslim Central Asia. Zarcone, Hobart, and others examine how shamanism, Islam, and especially Sufism have interrelated over the centuries, and are still interrelating today.

First paragraph: This work must be considered a major work in studies not only of shamanism but also of certain contemporary Muslim cultures. While the term “shamanism” commonly refers to a wide range of practices in various Muslim and non-Muslim parts of the world, a catch-all category for many different cults and belief systems, a certain unity can however, be perceived between the shamanic practices of North Asia and Muslim Central Asia. Zarcone, Hobart, and others examine how shamanism, Islam, and especially Sufism have interrelated over the centuries, and are still interrelating today.