Why do people continue to seek out ecstasy? Racha Kirakosian investigates this question through the centuries: from ancient trance practices and medieval visions to the Love Parade. She weaves cultural history, religion, psychology, and society together into a narrative that is thoughtful, clever, and accessible. Ecstasy proves to be not just spectacle but a key to understanding what it means to be human. This is a surprising, multifaceted look at a phenomenon that is both deeply rooted in history and strikingly present in today’s world.