Consuming Grief: Compassionate Cannibalism in an Amazonian Society (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is probably the most significant ethnography of cannibalism. Period... I expect this book to become a classic, an ethnography of exceptional depth and clarity by an anthropologist whose sensitivity and insight are apparent on every page." -Donald Pollock, Associate Professor of Anthropology, SUNY Buffalo

Review

This is probably the most significant ethnography of cannibalism. Period. . . . I expect this book to become a classic, an ethnography of exceptional depth and clarity by an anthropologist whose sensitivity and insight are apparent on every page. (Donald Pollock, Associate Professor of Anthropology, SUNY Buffalo )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292712367
• ISBN-13: 978-0292712362
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #527,773 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT BOOK FOR RESEARCH OR LEISURE, July 17, 2003

By	Vanessa (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I looked into this book a source for a term paper I was writing on Ritual Cannibalism, but then chose to buy if as my summer reading material. The book is very well written and easy to understand, which make it ideal for professionals, students, and lay-people alike. Coklin does a great job letting the reader into the mind of Wari' peoples; the testemonials are engaging and thought-provoking. I must warn that if you are looking for material that is critical of cannibalism, or argues that it does not exist, this isn't it. "Consuming Grief" makes cannibalism seem rational, and makes you feel sad that these peoples customs and culture were forced away. Coklin is biased in the sense that she is an anthropologist, in that I mean she does not pass any judgement on the peoples she is studying.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a superb discussion of a difficult topic, May 15, 2009

By	S. Johnston (Bowie, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent book which thoroughly and sensitively covers a topic that is difficult for someone raised in U.S. culture to talk about. I am an anthropologist so I have the edge in terms of cultural relativism, but I think that anyone interested in the reality of this topic (rather than the sensationalist approach) would find this book compelling. I highly recommend it for personal or course use.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Grand Text and Appropriate for Our Age, December 21, 2001

By	Albert B. (USA) - See all my reviews

This book is one of the best, I own on the subject matter. Very well done and extreemely detailed. I bought a second copy and gave it away as a Christmas gift this year, at my company Christmas party. It was a great success. Everyone wanted it. I'm glad Matt got to keep it.

I must say that very few texts on this subject are as well done as Conklin's. I highly recomend it to anyone interested in "Compassionate Cannibalism" through history.