لغز الهبة

by Maurice Godelier, رضوان ظاظا (ترجمة )

When we think of giving gifts, we think of exchanging objects that carry with them economic or symbolic value. But is every valuable thing a potentially exchangeable item, whose value can be transferred? In The Enigma of the Gift, the distinguished French anthropologist Maurice Godelier reassesses the significance of gifts in social life by focusing on sacred objects, which are never exchanged despite the value they possess.

Beginning with an analysis of the seminal work of Marcel Mauss and Claude Lévi-Strass, and drawing on his own fieldwork in Melanesia, Godelier argues that traditional theories are flawed because they consider only exchangeable gifts. By explaining gift-giving in terms of sacred objects and the authoritative conferral of power associated with them, Godelier challenges both recent and traditional theories of gift-giving, provocatively refreshing a traditional debate.

Elegantly translated by Nora Scott, The Enigma of the Gift is at once a major theoretical contribution and an essential guide to the history of the theory of the gift.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction

278 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 1996

About the author

One of the most influential names in French anthropology who works as the Directeur d'études at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales. Best known as one of the earliest advocates of Marxism's incorporation into anthropology, he is also known for his field work among the Baruya in Papua New Guinea that spanned three decades from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Among the many honors he has received are the CNRS Gold Medal and the Alexander von Humboldt prize. His major works include The Making of Great Men, The Metamorphoses of Kinship, The Enigma of the Gift, In and Out of the West, and, more recently, Lévi-Strauss: A Critical Study of His Thought.

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Figuring that most don't read my reviews of such isolated works as these, I'll save goodreads from the long summary. Godelier is a good reader of Mauss, but I'm not so sure he can fight the war he wants to fight on two fronts. He either needs to stick with and to develop Mauss, or to fight against Lacan and Levi-Strauss. As it stands, he kind of loses both battles. Still, this was much more lucid of a read, thank god.

[Jaka Zorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS NOT BOOK FOR EVERYONE. It intertwines psychological and philosophical analysis with a historical exploration of gift-giving among ancient cultures, focusing on the remarkable worldview of Pacific peoples. The book invites deep reflection on how Europeans, as drivers of global conquest, undermined the natural sense of coexistence in both economics and relationships with their greed, individualism, and pursuit of status. Godelier's work seeks to reframe humanity’s role within its natural and social context.

Why is it challenging to read?
1) Structure: The book flows as a continuous narrative without clear breaks. Chapters don’t conclude but rather expand on previous ideas with new examples and facts.
2) Extensive references: Citing over 230 sources, it’s dense with quotes, footnotes, and unfamiliar names, demanding high concentration.
3) Writing style: Although the core concept is simple, the repetitive, mantra-like narrative builds layers of meaning, which may take time to feel rather than rationally understand.

Who will appreciate this book?
- Readers open to profound insights, especially those practicing meditation or exploring spirituality.
- Those ready to reflect on alternative ways of thinking and perceiving the world.

Tips for reading:
- If the opening pages feel confusing, persist! The narrative may gradually draw you in.
- If it doesn’t resonate, set it aside and revisit later. You might need more maturity, life experience, or a broader worldview. My own journey took three attempts, but when the time was right, I finished it in two days.

This book is a challenging but rewarding exploration for those willing to embrace its depth and intricacies.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here we are, on one of the most anticipated anthropological works I wanted to read... and, as I was preparing myself, it was going to be a disappointment.

While Godelier summarizes and criticizes Mauss' classical book about the gift in a somewhat materialistic lenses, the reality is that Maurice is still an idealist and apologist.

Godelier still thinks, up to this book, that hierarchies are sometimes consented in primitive societies (yeah right, as if a woman loved to be exchanged for cattle or a slave to be traded for salt), confuses private property with kinship relations and that the gift in our societes has completely dissapeared in an individualistic veil (as if some invented traditions haven't the sole purpose of commodity circulation).

Read with caution, as always.

[Mauricio Balta Aguilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Godelier evalúa el papel de donar y su importancia. Muestra cómo las sociedades por medio de las donaciones van creando lazos y la cultura se va transformando. Si bien, es un punto de vista interesante en las dinámicas de consumo, donde donar hace parte del consumo, en nuestra realidad es más importante el intercambio.

[Perri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but Godelier's habit of writing in incessantly cascading clauses was frustrating. I did appreciate that he decided Lévi-Strauss was incorrect about the exchange of women (as a more valuable good, but a good nonetheless) being the basis of society.