Customer Reviews

Argonauts of the Western Pacific

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a real classic in the history of anthropology, published in 1922, and unlike another classic from the same decade, Coming of Age in Samoa, it has worn well, too. This is where modern ethnography begins. Malinowski tells us how to do ethnography, in no uncertain terms, as he explains Trobriand kula expeditions. I found it to be a delightful read and I was continually amazed at the intellectual sophistication of his work, given its age. I believe I learned more about ethnography from this book than from any other I have ever read, and I have been a professional anthropologist for 30 years. It is, I must warn you, a long book, and I doubt that many will be willing to read it from stem to stern, but I think every anthropologist should study the introduction at least. It is perhaps the "sacred charter" for the ethnographic project, complete with felicitous phrases such as the "ethnographer's magic," "the imponderabilia of actual life," "the native's point of view," and "the hold life has." In addition, it is certainly essential reading for anyone interested in magic, because it is as much about magic as it is about kula exchange.

I assigned this book to a junior-level college class in ethnography, but they weren't as pleased with it as I was. Many of the students understood the importance of the book, but most also found it tedious, dull, repetitive, hard to follow, and definitely too long.

Don't be misled by the occasional discouraged student, this is an important work that must be read by someone seeking to understand the nature and history of the social sciences.

I really can't see why the digital edition must cost way more than the paperback!
Not to mention the rental option.
It is a counter trend, since all kindle editions are usually less expensive than the paper ones.
I already have the book, and buying an e-book would have saved me miles and miles from going back home and get it to read it before a university deadline. A plane ticket would cost me less than buying the 80$ edition!
Ridiculous.

Not to mention the fact that "Argonauts of the Western Pacific" is not Sir James Frazer's, it's Bronislaw Malinowski's.
And obviously the few stars ARE FOR THE PRODUCT and its display, not for Malinowski's masterpiece (FIVE STARS)

Was bought used through amazon.com and it is in the condition that it was described but there is a large name written on the top of the book that was not noted in the description

Item arrived on time and in good condition. Though it had more highlighting than I expected. Still pretty good