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The Primitive World and Its Transformations.
Paperback Copyright 1971 Cornell University Press, Twelfth Printing Cornell Paperbacks. No printing line. All books are shipped 6 days a week via USPS Media Mail wrapped in bubble wrap and then covered in brown paper for labeling.
- GenresAnthropology
Hardcover
First published January 28, 1957
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 19, 2025
Feb 14, 1124am ~~ Wanted to have comments ready but will have to return later today or asap; got too carried away playing in the dirt this morning.
Feb 18, 836pm ~~ I've never read much about anthropology, and I ended up in a bit of deep water with this book, but it was very interesting, even if I felt lost now and then. That was partly due to Real Life during the time I was reading, so I plan to reread someday when I have a calmer, quieter stretch of time.
I want to quote the back cover of my edition, since there is no real info about the book in the database and at this point in time no other reviews.
"In this book, civilization is considered as a modification and transformation of primitive life. In explaining the human career, this distinguished anthropologist has stressed ideological and ethical factors, thus redressing the usual balance of emphasis on technological and economic influences. With penetration and compassion, he has provided a view of the passage from precivilized to civilized life as a continuous process of breaking down and rebuilding the moral order. How new patterns of behavior and new ways of thinking and of doing things have come into being is clearly shown.
The book displays a breadth of learning, a coherence of argument, and an economy of expression which makes it a delight to read." ~~ Yale Review
The book was created from lectures the author gave at Cornell University, and I was interested to see that its original publication was in 1953, and the thirteenth printing was in 1977. I have no idea if the theories discussed here are still accepted in the field, but you can see that they were at least in the public eye for quite a few years.
As I said, I want very much to reread when Real Life has settled down, because I was too stretched to really be able to pay attention and think about some of the comments the authors made. The book deserves a fully operational mind so I will come back to update this review when I can manage that.
Feb 18, 836pm ~~ I've never read much about anthropology, and I ended up in a bit of deep water with this book, but it was very interesting, even if I felt lost now and then. That was partly due to Real Life during the time I was reading, so I plan to reread someday when I have a calmer, quieter stretch of time.
I want to quote the back cover of my edition, since there is no real info about the book in the database and at this point in time no other reviews.
"In this book, civilization is considered as a modification and transformation of primitive life. In explaining the human career, this distinguished anthropologist has stressed ideological and ethical factors, thus redressing the usual balance of emphasis on technological and economic influences. With penetration and compassion, he has provided a view of the passage from precivilized to civilized life as a continuous process of breaking down and rebuilding the moral order. How new patterns of behavior and new ways of thinking and of doing things have come into being is clearly shown.
The book displays a breadth of learning, a coherence of argument, and an economy of expression which makes it a delight to read." ~~ Yale Review
The book was created from lectures the author gave at Cornell University, and I was interested to see that its original publication was in 1953, and the thirteenth printing was in 1977. I have no idea if the theories discussed here are still accepted in the field, but you can see that they were at least in the public eye for quite a few years.
As I said, I want very much to reread when Real Life has settled down, because I was too stretched to really be able to pay attention and think about some of the comments the authors made. The book deserves a fully operational mind so I will come back to update this review when I can manage that.
Displaying 1 of 1 review