Living with Djinns: Understanding and Dealing with the Invisible in Cairo - Tapa dura

A very readable book. Drieskens eschews tedious jargon and opts for engagingly straightforward prose ... I could easily imagine using this book in an undergraduate course on the anthropology of the Middle East. - Middle East Journal

The djinn is an invisible spirit with a will of its own that may lurk at the bottom of your teacup or seep through your pores to possess you. Djinns have long been an explanation for illness and misfortune or an excuse for unconventional behaviour. Barbara Drieskens has conducted an extensive survey of lower-middle class families in Cairo today to see how modern Egyptians make a place for these ancient beings in their busy lives. She investigates possession, manifestations and concepts of person and space. She also explores the importance of storytelling in Egyptian society and recounts first-hand experiences of djinns in this unique ethnographic study.