Customer Reviews

The Buried Soul: How Humans Invented Death

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

 

 

This book deals with the concept of death in the human experience, specifically how the living think of death, try to control it, demystify it, and use it as a tool to control the behavior of individuals and societies. Medicine and the prevention of death is ignored; instead the book focuses on cultural and philosophical issues from prehistory days to modern times.

Topics covered in the book include cannibalism, burial practices, worshipping the dead, exorcism and getting rid of dead spirits, sacrificial killings, beliefs in the afterlife, and vampires. The author attempts to explore these topics for a variety of cultures and geographies, and does a good job of including examples from Islam, the West, Native Americans, Australian aborigines, and some other groups, but the book is in no way comprehensive. Several notable examples of man's obsession with death are excluded, such as Mexico's Day of the Dead, Halloween, and the raising of Lazarus by Jesus. Instead, the book tries to cover the topics we do not necessarily think about or are even aware of. These include the prevalence of ritualistic cannibalism throughout the world, the long history of sacrificial killings, and the one topic still alive today, the treatment of widows in certain non-Western cultures.

The book itself is written in first person. The author is a trained anthropologist working in this field. Each topic begins with his narration of a field dig; from there he goes on to give a lecture on what his finds tell us about culture and history; specifically death. For example, the chapter on cannibalism begins with his description of buried skeletons that show clear cut marks where stone tools were used to separate flesh from bone. This style of writing is engaging, though there were many times when too many words were spent relating the field dig, thereby distracting the reader.

Overall, an interesting book though the reading can be quite slow at times.

I picked this up at the library, for the cover alone. The photo is outstanding. If you're into death, and the take on death through the ages, you'll like this book. There is a description of a viking burial that is fascinating for us N.Euros, with an excellent interpretation. I enjoy an educated writer and this guy is sharp, but there are no no great revalations here, the value here is in breadth. Does he do what he sets out to do? Pretty much, but he gets a little wordy and sometimes you'll wonder where he's going. If death, the soul, or burial interest you, I'd say you'd enjoy it and get something out of it. I presently don't own this, but it's on my list of titles to flesh out my library, and I will be referring back to this later. Check it out: 4 stars.

I found this book one of the most interesting I have read in a long time. Some of the information in the book was disturbing, but always intellectually engaging. I plan to re read it eventually. Taylor puts forth some ideas that, in his field, have no doubt been controversial, but that is what makes an interesting and thought provoking author and book. My short review and my opinion. Surely there will soon be more reviews from readers who love to write as if they know it all. Read it yourself. You may take exception to some of it, or find yourself in absolute agreement, but it is worth the process.

I got this item because I read Twilight and I wanted a scholar's take on vampirism and death ritual and afterlife - it is that and more! He does claim that humans were not cognizant of death before we acquired language/speech. I simply don't buy that and I think other animals may be aware of death and dying too - which is a big deal in our limited sicence right now! I have seen dogs, cows, cats, and birds, etc hover over a dying member waiting and watching and "knowing" that the outcome will be loss, you can tell by their anxious wimpers and cries...they know about death and are aware of it on some level just like we are, like all sentient beings are. Animals also exhibit the full range of emotions that Taylor mentions are so crucial to the experience of death that we also humans express. Its instinctual to know about mortality so I just think its bunk that our science has long used this "concept" to differentiate us from other animals. Bah! Animals dream and even have REM sleep too! Dreaming is the aspect of being that belies intent and awareness...

"Awareness" is not something we take into account well since Rationalism/and Cartesian Dualism of the 1800's took over. Its our blind side now, especially in science. See the Toltecs for more on awareness and the Serpent Rainbow of the Mayans, Aboriginals, etc, etc, etc...This is the real secret! Anyway, sorry for the tangent, this is a great read. But don't read it too late at night when you are all alone in the house!

"If there is in this world a well-attested account, it is that of vampires. Nothing is lacking: official reports, affidavits of ... And with all of that, who is there who believes in vampires?" - Rousseau

I suspect we have long limited our consciousness through rigmorale and denial of ourselves and our true nature and fear of feminine intuition, burned at the state. But its time to wake up. The polar ice can't take anymore of our ignorance and denail. See Nova's Extreme Ice, and Join the ZEITGEIST MOVEMENT!