XYGALATAS, DIMITRIS. 2022, Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living, London: Profile Books, 312 pp., ISBN 978-1-78816-102-2       

Dimitris Xygalatas’ book Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living delves into the profound significance of rituals across diverse cultures, exploring their role in shaping human behaviour, fostering group cohesion, and influencing social dynamics. Xygalatas uncovers various functions of rituals, their evolutionary origins, and how they can affect our well-being in various contexts, from extreme rituals in village settings to elite sports and workplace practices. The themes of collective effervescence, the bonding effects of rituals, and their potential positive impact on mental health and group dynamics are central to Xygalatas’ research and the ideas presented in the book. He draws connections between seemingly diverse rituals, ranging from extreme events like fire-walking to more common experiences like workplace activities and communal feasts. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that melds anthropology, psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, Xygalatas offers insights into the complex nature of rituals and their intricate effects on individuals and societies.

Having observed mesmerising Candomble rituals in northeast Brazil, documented intense Shia ceremonies in India, learnt the exciting music and movement of combat-dancing rituals in Indonesia, walked 380kms on pilgrimage in the North of Spain, and participated in a firewalking ceremony in the Philippines, I was keen to read this book to learn more about ritual in human societies. As I plunged into Xygalatas’ book, I was excited to learn that much of what anthropologists observe in their fieldwork and much of what people participating in ritual report is being consolidated with experimental studies. Learning how ritual can improve psychological health is both reassuring and affirming. This book not only affirms the value of ritual as an area of academic study and research but also explores how it can profoundly impact our psychological well-being. In Ritual, Xygalatas offers an accessible and engaging exploration of this essential aspect of human cultural life, inviting his reader to contemplate rituals more deeply and rigorously.

Xylagatas’ expertise, and consequently the book’s primary focus, revolves around extreme rituals, those perched at the zenith of the spectrum of emotional stress, physical pain, or energy expenditure (p. 12). The front cover, featuring what appears to be a photo of a tea ritual, depicts ritual practices at the other end of the spectrum. In another edition of the book, sky lanterns grace the cover, evoking feelings of calmness and serenity. Although the book does not extensively discuss every day or less extreme rituals, it effectively stirs curiosity about more familiar, common, and widespread rituals that often blur the fine line between ritual and habit. Will most readers view ritual as something exotic, something done by others but not by ‘us’? After all, how do the body modification rituals of the Global South differ fundamentally from extreme practices like plastic surgery, labiaplasty, or even gruelling gym routines? While the differences might seem apparent, the underlying similarities are, perhaps, even more intriguing to consider. Xylagatas boldly posits that rituals are “truly universal human behaviours,” a premise that invites readers to explore the profound connections that bind us across cultural boundaries. 

To fully appreciate the spirit of the book, a glimpse into the author’s background is helpful. Dimitris Xygalatas, a cognitive anthropologist, stands as a prominent figure in the study of ritual, religious practices, and the underlying cognitive and social mechanisms. His expansive journey has taken him through esteemed institutions including Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Queen’s University Belfast, Aarhus University, Princeton University, Masaryk University, and University of Connecticut, where he has collaborated with leading researchers in the field of religion. Xygalatas’ approach to ritual behaviour aligns with cognitive and evolutionary perspectives, seeking to decipher the rationale behind seemingly irrational and resource-intensive behaviours such as rituals. He explores the adaptive functions that these behaviours might have evolved to serve, including group cohesion, identity formation, and social bonding.  

Xygalatas’ methodology encompasses a blend of ethnography, experimental methods, and cross-cultural analysis to explore various aspects of ritual behaviour and its significance. Through innovative means such as psychophysiological measurements and behavioural observations, he has probed into the intricate psychological and physiological processes that underlie ritual practices. He has applied this methodological approach to his fieldwork in various cultural settings, including the Caribbean, India, Mauritius, and Greece. His cross-cultural lens allows him to investigate how ritual practices and their effects differ across different societies and contexts. Ultimately, Xygalatas’ research illuminates the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of ritual. Beyond the realms of anthropology, his work reverberates through neighbouring disciplines including psychology, sociology, and religious studies, offering valuable insights into the profound and enigmatic human practice of ritual.

Comprising nine easy to read chapters with catchy titles, Ritual seamlessly combines engaging narrative with the latest scientific findings to introduce readers to the wonders, significance and paradox of ritual behaviour. The key points illuminated in the book are that (1) ritual, as demonstrated by the ancient site of Göbekli Tepe, predates the hallmarks of civilization, including agriculture and permanent settlement, suggesting that it was a significant impetus for people to form large groups; (2) rituals extend beyond their social aspect to serve as psychological tools, providing structure and predictability that alleviate stress and anxiety amidst uncertainty; (3) rituals possess a profound social dimension, acting not merely as social glue but as superglue, fostering togetherness, emotional alignment, and a transformative sense of unity and cohesion; (4) rituals mark pivotal life events, define social relationships, and craft meaningful experiences that mould an individual’s autobiographical self and shape their identity; and (5) while the manifestations of rituals may evolve, they endure across secular societies, persisting because they fulfill a fundamental human need for connection, meaning, and self-discovery