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University of California Press

About the Book

In 1968 University of California Press published an unusual manuscript by an anthropology student named Carlos Castaneda. The Teachings of Don Juan enthralled a generation of seekers dissatisfied with the limitations of the Western worldview. Castaneda's now classic book remains controversial for the alternative way of seeing that it presents and the revolution in cognition it demands. Whether read as ethnographic fact or creative fiction, it is the story of a remarkable journey that has left an indelible impression on the life of more than a million readers around the world.

About the Author

Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998) was an American author and anthropologist who wrote many bestselling books on shamanism including Magical Passes, The Art of Dreaming, Fire from Within, Journey to Ixtlan, and A Separate Reality. His books continue to inspire and influence both new readers and dedicated fans.

Reviews

“Taken together [Castaneda’s books] form a work among the best that the science of anthropology has produced.”
The New York Times Book Review
“Extraordinary in every sense of the word.”
The New York Times
“An unparalleled breakthrough . . . Remarkable.”
Los Angeles Times
“An unparalleled breakthrough... Remarkable.”
Los Angeles Times
"[Castaneda's book offers] extraordinarily rich, hallucinogenic evocations of ancient paths to knowledge based on what he described as an extended apprenticeship with a Yaqui Indian shaman named Don Juan Matus."
Chicago Tribune
“It is impossible to view the world in quite the same way.”
Chicago Tribune