Waking the Witch

Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power

By: Pam Grossman

Narrated by: Pam Grossman

From the podcast host of The Witch Wave and practicing witch Pam Grossman - who Vulture has dubbed the “Terry Gross of witches” - comes an exploration of the world’s fascination with witches, why they have intrigued us for centuries and why they’re more relevant now than ever.

When you think of a witch, what do you picture? Pointy black hat, maybe a broomstick. But witches in various guises have been with us for millennia. In Waking the Witch, Pam Grossman explores the impact of the world’s most magical icon. From the idea of the femme fatale in league with the devil to the bewitching pop culture archetypes in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Harry Potter; from the spooky ladies in fairy tales to the rise of contemporary witchcraft, witches reflect the power and potential of women. Part cultural analysis, part memoir, Waking the Witch traces the author’s own journey on the path to witchcraft and how this has helped her find self-empowerment and purpose. It celebrates witches past, present, and future and reveals the critical role they have played - and will continue to play - in the world as we know it.

“Deftly illuminating the past while beckoning us towards the future, Waking the Witch has all the makings of a feminist classic. Wise, relatable, and real, Pam Grossman is the witch we need for our times.” (Ami McKay, author of The Witches of New York)

©2019 Pam Grossman (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Super!

I would love to see more ppl of color books about this topics!!! We're here too!

A unique and delightful book

Delightful mix of memoir with the history and pop culture of witches woven in. It has an episodic podcast vibe, which made the audiobook perfect for my commute. And I loved the voice!

Intersting and a little funny

Interesting content. The narrator has a slightly annoying speaking rhythm that made it less enjoyable than it could have been.

Loved it!

The book was a great listen. Pam is a great writer and narrator, overall a fun, informative and engaging book.

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved hearing about the artists and women who are just making history and about the history of witches and witchcraft in general.

Engrossing Entertaining & Enlightening

Wonderful book read by the author, whose podcast “Waking the Witch” carries on the foundational work if this book. Part biography, part history, and part cultural analysis this book informs, entertains and provokes thoughtful understanding of the maligned, misunderstood, persecuted, and in some cases commodified world of a spirituality that centers women, life, and nature. This is both timely and timeless, and is an excellent listen, highest recommendations!!

A beautiful and thoughtful listen.

I am a long time listener to Pam’s podcast, Witch Wave, so I expected to enjoy this book...

Even with high expectations, I was still taken a back by the beauty, venerability, strength and humor.

I laughed out loud.
I cried.

Bright blessings, Pam.

Witchtastic Introspection

For anyone fascinated by the history of global paganism, spiritualism, occultism, and indigenous religions, Pam delves not only into the origins of these practices, but their influences throughout the centuries to today's trends.

A juicy taste of history

I really enjoyed the walk through time up to present day on the history the Witch. I also loved that the narrator made sure to cover diversity as well. Big thanks on that so very appreciate getting a taste of the full picture!

Excellent exploration of the icon of the Witch

From a scholarly/academic perspective, Grossman’s text is a full and thoughtful exploration of the witch as a cultural icon. It is a necessary rendering of historical events that help add and correct some of our cultural myths about the witch. This text is also a very personal narrative about the impact and value of witchcraft and the icon of the witch on Grossman, but that resonates very strongly for me and, I would guess, so many others.