Occult America
The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation

Having studied esoteric and occult culture for well over half my life, this book doesn't contain anything that I hadn't already read about. However, the author's treatment of his subject matter is a refreshing change from either the condescending manner of skeptical writers or the credulous tone of......more

Mitch Horowitz did a good job of presenting a historical account of American-based occultism and mysticism. There was a wide range of sects, groups, topics, and belief systems discussed here. The opener was the phenomena of New England that included the Shakers, the Burnt-Over District, Joseph Smith......more

Mitch Horowitz: Occult America -- The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation (Bantam, 2009) A Review By Raj Ayyar Mitch Horowitz leads us on a fascinating journey through an alternative U.S. history – a landscape peopled with colorful eccentrics, inspired visionaries and self-help savants. Co......more

I found Occult America to be an absolutely engaging historical account of the spiritual leaders and movements that helped pave the way for Mysticism in the world today. Many people were brought to my attention that I had never before heard of, but have played such a pivotal role in the spiritual mov......more

Like I mentioned before this is a very superficial introduction to the not-well-known history of the occult in America. It does a decent job of illustrating that Americans do seem to have a bit of a mystical vein. Today is most widely manifest by the popularization of its once "mysterious teachings"......more