Purity And Danger by Mary Douglas

This seminal work in anthropology and sociology examines the concepts of cleanliness and pollution, and how different societies and cultures categorize and respond to what they consider pure or impure. The author argues that the ideas of purity and danger are not absolute but are constructed by social contexts, serving to uphold social structures and boundaries. Through a cross-cultural analysis, the book explores how rituals, taboos, and the notion of dirt are used to create order and meaning, revealing that what is deemed dirty or polluting often symbolizes disorder and challenges to the social system. The text is a thought-provoking exploration of the symbolic systems that humans create to maintain their cultural norms and social organization.

The 3288th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 114

Since this book was first published in 1966, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 114.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.