Customer Reviews

A Celebration of Customs & Rituals of the World

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"Celebration" is the right word.
Wilkinson and Ingpen portray the world's ceremonies of development (from birth to death), surviving (hunting and harvesting, eating and drinking, healing), socializing (initiation, gift-giving, dispute-settlement), and aspects of spirituality in this clearly written, beautifully illustrated work.
The ceremonial dress from all areas of the world is particularly striking, and the reader begins to see the universality of human experience beneath the colorful variations of cultural expressions; "perfect symbols of the unity of the family of mankind".
With a Calendar of Customs, suggestions for further reading, and an excellent index, this well produced, generously sized work would make an excellent gift for children as well as adults. Highly recommended.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

A good introduction of cultural customs and rituals with wonderful illustrations. I feel the book was suited for a younger age group, 10-14, than say 18+. It covered a broad spectrum of cultures, including some African tribes. The book even provided several in-depth explanations to some customs including childbirth, funerals, marriage. The a calendar of holidays over the world which I was delighted to see. The only downside was that it seemed too vague and while the illustrations had short captions by them I would've liked to see more emphasis on unifying cultural aspects. Altogether, it was organized, ideal for beginners or older children. I would recommend to teachers and students in history and anthropology.