The Gift by Marcel Mauss
The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies
"The Gift" is a seminal sociological and anthropological text that explores the concept of gift-giving across various cultures, emphasizing its role in establishing social bonds and community cohesion. The author delves into the obligations that accompany gifts, which are not merely voluntary transactions but are imbued with spiritual and moral significance, involving reciprocity and the exchange of wealth, goods, and services. Through examining Polynesian, Melanesian, and North American societies, the book illustrates how these gift economies function to create and reinforce social ties and obligations, challenging Western notions of economic transactions and highlighting the profound cultural variations in how value and economy are understood.
The 10282nd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1925
- Nationality
- French
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 100-150
- Original Language
- French
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- No ratings yet
- Alternate Titles
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- Ensayo Sobre El Don
- Essai sur le don
- Essay on the Gift
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