A History of Cannibalism: From ancient cultures to survival stories and modern psychopaths

by Nathan Constantine

Cannibalism is the oldest taboo in the world. But in ancient times it was integral to existence in some societies and viewed as both necessary and socially acceptable.

Throughout history there have been instances of humans who, finding themselves in extremis, are forced to eat companions out of sheer desperation in order to survive. Do we reserve judgement in these circumstances, or is this behaviour simply an indication of the brutality that simmers under the surface of human civilization?

A History of Cannibalism delves into a subject that causes people to recoil in horror and disbelief. It examines the background to many notorious cases, providing no easy answers, but offering a fascinating insight into forces that lie deep within the human psyche.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, True Crime, Death, Crime

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[سیما تقوی · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب بسیار لذت‌بخشی بود...مملو از شرح وقایع تاریخی از ابتدایی‌ترین دورانی که بشر اقدام به ثبت تاریخ و وقایع کرده تا زمان حال و شرح دقیق - گاهی بسیار دقیق! - وقایع مربوط به آدم‌خواری، آئین‌ها، سنن، مراسم و حتی گاهی دستورهای غذایی کهن...در نظر خواننده در اولین نگاه شاید یکی از نفرت‌انگیزترین و هولناک‌ترین کتاب‌ها باشد اما واقعا اینطور نیست...صرفا کتابی تاریخی است که سیر وقایع تاریخ آدمخواری توسط نسل بشر را از ابتدا تا کنون بسادگی و با شیواترین کلام تشریح می‌کند، نویسنده نه داستان ترسناکی نوشته که از او بیزار شویم و نه بقولی پیازداغ ماجرا را زیاد کرده که نظر خواننده را جلب کند، نه، او صرفا تاریخ قساوت بشر را از ابتدا تا کنون بیان کرده و بنظرم چیز ترسناکی در این کتاب نیست - تهوع‌آور گاها چرا، هست! - چون امکان دارد نفر کنار دستی ما در مترو، اتوبوس، قطار یا حتی عضوی از خانواده ما جزو همین‌هایی باشد که در کتاب شرحشان رفته...افرادی که برای خانواده خود پدر یا مادری مهربان و دلسوز بودند و بیرون از خانه وحشتی مسلم برای زنان، کودکان، پیر و جوان...خواندنش را به کسانی که تاریخ، انسان‌شناسی و حتی روان‌شناسی دوست دارند بشدت توصیه می‌کنم.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

A History of Cannibalism is a quick read and a good starting point for research or the casual reader interested in the subject as it relates the stories of many cannibal killers that are not as well known as others such as Jeffrey Dahmer or Ed Gein as well as stories in which people were forced into cannibalism, cultural cannibalism and ritual cannibalism.

If you're looking for in depth research, as I was, however, this is not the book for you. A lot of space is taken up with full or half page photographs or enlarged sections of the texts repeated and placed randomly on the page with the main textual narrative wrapped around. Which, in itself isn't necessarily a detriment, however, it does take away some of the books credibility as a reference book and makes it appear more like a research book for a middle school library.

It's not a bad read, and my one star rating is due more to a statement on the back cover than the actual text of the book, which, although because of the subject matter, I can not say was enjoyable, but it was definitely interesting and informative. The statement in question reads, "Exhaustively researched..." I find it difficult to acknowledge a book that has a bibliography of only 28 books and three articles as being exhaustively researched and was disturbed that the publishers make this claim. Part of my feelings on this is due to my university training, where a mere research paper required at least five references on a single subject, and it certainly wasn't considered exhaustive. A book of any sort that claims to be exhaustively researched most definitely requires more than 31 articles of reference. Especially when covering a time span encompassing ancient times to the modern era.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good. Fucken. God. First of all, I can’t even begin to unpack the cover image of this book. Second, this man needs to learn how to write in active voice. PLEASE. His passivity throughout killed me. He also has a repulsive sympathy for colonizers. A lot of the different sections were word salad with zero substance; saying everything without saying anything at all. He begins the book by seeming unbiased and welcoming different ways and practices of life, then quickly throws that out the window. He also has the audacity to say that cultural cannibalism doesn’t exist anymore as if he knows every single culture on earth. Dude, grow up.

I have only two positive notes: he at least points out the age-old history of European’s hypocrisy with cannibalism with great detail, and provides a few useful references. Other than that, I am not impressed. Also, he said Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn’t a great movie and didn’t even include C.H.U.D. in the cannibal horror movie list.

[Mrs. Robin_]

Wild.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

dafuq did I just read. საკმაოდ შემაძრწუნებელი ამბებია წიგნში. ერთის მხრივ ეს მოსალოდნელია წიგნის თემიდან გამომდინარე. მაგრამ უფრო შემაძრწუნებელი ისაა როცა კითხულობ არა კულტურულ კანიბალიზმზე სადღაც ჯუნგლებში და ისიც ოდესღაც არსებულზე, არამედ თანამედროვე გაუგონარ სისასტიკეზე, თანამედროვე კაციჭამიებზე. რადგან ზოგადად ჟანრი Crime არ მაინტერესებს. ბევრი თანამედროვე კაციჭამია არ ვიცოდი. აქ კი მრავალი საშინელება ამოვიკითხე.

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book begins in a somewhat promising way, but eventually devolves into what reads like a series of book reports or Wikipedia articles on individual instances of cannibalism. There is very little insight to be gained from such an approach, and it would have been nice to see some thought put into a few good in depth exposés rather than briefly recounting dozens of tiny vignettes with little attention to detail.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author already starts with illustrations (e.g. Cronon Eating His Children) before his goes into his chapters on the topic: cannibalism and ritual, eating the enemy, as a renewal, cultural cannibalism, its evolution, cannibalism and disasters, famine and cannibalism, infamous cannibals through the ages, the 19th century, Albert Fish, Ed Gein, cannibalism in present books and movies. So many intriguing illustrations and photos, so much insight in the mind of the cannibals and their practice. This was the most impressive book on the subject so far. Highly recommended!

[Rhiannon Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Interesting Read…

The taboo of cannibalism seems to waver depending on circumstances… need vs psychopathy; availability vs murder - yet through history its practice has touched every society and culture, sometimes (like in book and film) has even influenced culture.

This book balanced the nuances of an uncomfortable subject with great precision.

[Angelika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting for newbies and those who knows something. Maybe not great if you've already known these stories.

[germ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and well researched. I finished it in under twenty four hours with time to spare. I highly recommend. A bit graphic at times but nothing permanently scarring.

[Critter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book starts off with the author seeming to try to remain unbiased on the practices of cultural cannibalism, but that goes away quickly. This book offers no balance on the practices of cannibalism across cultures and tends to be too sympathetic towards colonizers. While Constantine does provide arguments on the hypocrisy of Europeans in the practice of cannibalism, I was not very impressed with the arguments or contents within this book. Constantine seemed to rely on shocking the audience too much at times over providing a detailed and balanced argument over the practice of cultural cannibalism as well as acts as if there are no more cultures that practice cultural cannibalism after European colonization. Much of this book felt like facts just placed on the pages, rather than providing a detailed history or cultural analysis in the sections that would have needed that. The book was also greatly missing resources. The research and information provided didn't feel sufficiently backed up.

[Dean Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I've seen some horrible reviews of this book and I have to say, -lighten up. On the other hand, this book could have been better.
When you have read as many books on Cannibalism as I have you see definite patterns. While some of this seemed to be lifted straight from Wikipedia, there was some good here. I would have liked to have experienced more of a writer's voice or narrative and it wasn't there. Some of the historical re-tellings could have used a persistent narrative rather than just facts being spat out. (This Mary Roach, etc.)
That being said, there was a lot here and as they go this was not a horrible book. I would give it a letter grade of B- if it were a paper in school.
One sticky point with me. Ed Kemper the serial killer was mentioned, but there was no mention of him eating human flesh. Other mentions of serial killers who tricked people into eating human flesh but did not themselves do so, did not seem to apply. I would have left these mentions out. If you like me are a book collector who has several macabre sections, this is a must have.

[Stephie Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not think to much of this book, while the author wrote well enough (the narative flowed), the book was repetative. The analysis was thin and unsupported. The writer did not seem to put much effort in tracking down any satistics. Even if you are interested in the subject for titilation, it is not very good. The author uses a lot of broad strokes and is slim on details. My overall impression is to forget it. The only thing that stopped me from putting it down was it short length.

[Clarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The book is informative but, the big bolded text is really distracting sometimes. In additon, the part about modern day canibalism somehow is leaning towards the murders not the canibalism. But, overall it's still an enjoying read.

[Monika Ferens · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read. Unlike the heavy subject of the book, the writing is light, with a bit of humor and irony. Informative and well-organized. I read it couple of years ago and I think about it to this day, wishing to read it again. Highly recommended.

[Sonya Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, it's a bit bizarre but worth it. It's like a train wreck. So horrible you can't look away.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and disturbing all at the same time.

[Aim · Rating 3 out of 5]

bon tour d'horizon de ce qu'est le cannibalisme et dans quelles circonstances il peut être pratiqué. parfois un peu trop sensationnaliste dans son style (mais bon, ça va avec le sujet).

[Myriam Grigalashvili · Rating 3 out of 5]

საინტერესო საკითხავია თემის ზოგადად გასაცნობად, თუმცა ავტორის აშკარად სუბიექტური დამოკიდებულებაც ეტყობა. სუსტი ნერვების მქონეთათვის, საკმაოდ დამთრგუნველია.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I appreciate balancing sarcasm and cultural awareness in explanations. This was fun and not creepy, which was nice.

[Elizabeth Oerther · Rating 4 out of 5]

It reads like a report or research paper on the topic as a whole which at times let's the author's sense of humor shine through.