The Savage Mind by Claude Lévi-Strauss
This book is a seminal work in the field of anthropology that explores the structures of human thought across cultures, arguing against the notion of "primitive" minds in traditional societies. The author posits that so-called "savage" or "primitive" thinking is not inferior to "civilized" thought but is, in fact, an equally complex and systematic way of understanding the world. Through a detailed analysis of totemism, myths, and rituals, the work demonstrates how indigenous and non-Western peoples categorize and make sense of their experiences with the same intellectual rigor as those in modern societies, challenging ethnocentric views of human intellectual capabilities and contributing to the broader understanding of human cognition.
The 3003rd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1962
- Nationality
- French
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 310
- Original Language
- French
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.0)
- Alternate Titles
- - La Pensée Sauvage
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- Books that Shaped the Century (LOGOS 20th Century Books Project)
- The Hundred Most Influential Books Since The War (WW2) (Central and East European Publishing Project)