About the author
Michael Jackson is a New Zealand-born anthropologist known for his work in existential and phenomenological anthropology, distinct from the American singer of the same name. Coincidences: Synchronicity, Verisimilitude, and Storytelling (University of California Press, 2021) examines the remarkable-coincidence stories that most people can tell about their own lives, and the ways such events have been interpreted as evidence of divine influence, fate, or the collective unconscious. Rather than adjudicating between these interpretations, the book treats coincidence as a storytelling phenomenon, asking what the impulse to find meaningful pattern in chance events reveals about how people narrate their lives. Writing from an anthropological rather than an esoteric standpoint, Jackson situates the topic within questions of narrative and belief, aimed at readers interested in the anthropology of experience as much as in the paranormal implications of coincidence itself.
📖 Where to start with Michael Jackson
💬 What our editors say about Michael Jackson's books
“Jackson provides a sophisticated dissection of coincidence that appeals to the intellect as much as the spirit. The book successfully merges diverse theoretical lenses to explain why we crave pattern in chaos. However, readers…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Coincidences: Synchronicity, Verisimilitude, and Storytelling
“Jackson offers a compelling journey into uncanny moments that defy mere chance, illuminating the deep human need for meaning in random events. However, this text is not suited for readers seeking simple answers or casual…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Coincidences: Synchronicity, Verisimilitude, and Storytelling
