Cannibalism: From Sacrifice to Survival [Hardcover]

Hans Askenasy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

Psychologist, Hans Askenasy has put together the first comprehensive history of a subject combining violence, horror, and exotic customs. In Part One of his study, Dr. Askenasy gives a historical and geographic overview of humankind's practice of and attitudes toward cannibalism. Part Two discusses motivational factors for cannibalism, including famines (natural and man-made), survival in extreme situations, magic, ritual, and madness. In Part Three, "Cannibalism in Culture and Society", Askenasy addresses our continuing fascination with cannibals, man-eating witches, werewolves, and vampires in literature, myth, and the media, ranging from Francis Ford Coppola's film version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles" to the blood curdling events surrounding the cases of Issei Sagawa, Jeffrey Dahmer, and the Russian schoolteacher-turned torturer, Andrei Romanovitsch Chikatilo.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Perhaps not every library has a section on cannibalism, but for those that do--or for those that need one good anthropophagic resource--this is the goods. Askenasy's chronicle examines virtually all conceivable facets of its subject with an air of avid interest if not repressed glee. Like most taboo behaviors, cannibalism has a long practical history. Askenasy presents historic cannibalism as both an act of expediency (as with the infamous Donner party) and a tenet of various religions and cultures, most of which Western culture would term barbaric; and he examines manifestations of cannibalism in other belief systems and practices--the thrust, for instance, of the chapter "Werewolves, Witches, and Vampires." Throughout, Askenasy maintains a scrupulously noncommittal tone regarding the ultimate morality of cannibalism. Although it may offend some squeamish readers, this book is comparable to the Sacher-Masoch diary (whose author's name has partially passed into the sexological vocabulary) as an important illumination of one of the grim, dark corners of human existence. Mike Tribby

Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879759062
• ISBN-13: 978-0879759063
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #694,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful study of the subject, September 13, 2000

By 

K. Unger (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cannibalism: From Sacrifice to Survival (Hardcover)

This is a great overview book for anyone interested in the topic of cannibalism. While there are a lot of stories that are dealt with in a cursory manner, there is enough analysis to make the book truly worthwhile. The author explores the motivations for breaking of "the last taboo" and includes lots of historical examples of each of those motivations. By asking thought provoking questions of the reader, Askenaasy puts you in the place of those who are alleged to have eaten their fellow man. He also asks the reader to question third party "evidence" and shows how not all that we read is necessarily true even given reliable sources. The book certainly left me thinking more about the topic than ever before and in news ways.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cannibalism from fact to fiction, March 3, 2002

By 

John D. Cater (Montrose, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cannibalism: From Sacrifice to Survival (Hardcover)

Although Askenasy's book is a fun read and may make interesting dinner table conversation (pun intended) I cannot endorse the work as a serious piece of anthropological literature. The reason being that there is no clear line (and Askenasy openly admits this) between the facts around cannibalism cases and the fiction that derives from the idea of cannibalism. This is not the fault of the author, but a problem inherent in the topic. Read the book and enjoy it for what it is, but don't put too much faith in the stories.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, very informative, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cannibalism: From Sacrifice to Survival (Hardcover)

This is a great book for anyone interested in the anthropological aspects of cannabilism. Its not so scholarly that you can't grasp what are the cultural roots of the behavior in each case, and it covers many cases around the world. It can be a bit graphic, which is normal considering the subject matter. A good book for anyone interested in the philisophical issues surrounding an extremely taboo behavior.