Marshall Sahlins (1930–2021)

En esta obra, Sahlins examina la muerte de James Cook como un evento simbólico ­—y no simplemente histórico— que revela cómo los indígenas de Hawai interpretaban su llegada e intervención. A través de una combinación de historia, antropología interpretativa y análisis simbólico, Sahlins muestra que la muerte de Cook se convirtió en “metáfora de historia” para los nativos, permitiendo repensar el encuentro entre culturas, la imposición colonial y los relatos de show more autoimagen cultural. show less

This classic text can be read as an extended dissection of the concept of reciprocity, which has served as a cornerstone of anthropological economics and social relations. The section "correcting" Mauss's The Gift is especially engaging, second only to the rightly-famous first chapter which argues that early peoples enjoyed are much more leisurely lifestyle than we do. We pay for our "comforts" and "conveniences" with additional, unending work.

Beginning with more accessible ideas and show more discussions, the treatment becomes more technical and detailed as the book progresses. The reader is spared the worst of this discussion due to Sahlins's casual writing style. The dense sections are dense because of the data that needs to be presented; the author, however, does not make it unnecessarily mind-numbing. Definitely one of those books that should be actually read, rather than merely read about. show less

On the one hand, this is a dry, highly-technical textbook which is sixty years out of date. On the other hand, the prose is hard because it is so concise, and there is a lot in here which remains true today. I was most interested in this book because of the way it reflects Sahlins's thought during a transitional point in his life. It is good -- but only if you are really interested in this genre. So you should almost definitely not read it.

Starts out fascinating with a chapter/essay on primitive tribes as the "original affluent society." In this best section of the book, Sahlins reframes the entire notion of affluence, turning from our modern ability to obtain whatever material good we want to the primitive flip side: simply not wanting much, and thus easily having all of your desires fulfilled (in less than 3 hours a day, on average, taboot!). Talk about leisure.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book gets way too academic, show more talking about production rates and domestic modes of production and kinship distances and other not-very-interesting things. For an economics student, this would probably all be fascinating. I am not such a person. Hidden gems among the rest of the rather dry tome are Sahlin´s discussion of "Warre" in Hobbes' Leviathan and his idea of gift-giving among chiefs as somewhat akin to slave-making (putting people in your debt through your generosity). Both of those found in Chapter 4. show less