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71st out of 398 books
—
760 voters
The Golden Bough. A Study in Magic and Religion: Volume 1
Sir James George Frazer's comparative study of anthropology, folklore, and myth has been an influential work for writers and a standard text for scholars since its original publication, in several volumes, in the early part of the 20th century. Frazer was a professor of social anthropology and a classicist.
(This edition was originaly listed as "the Arabic illustrated editi...more
(This edition was originaly listed as "the Arabic illustrated editi...more
Hardcover, Wordsworth Reference, 408 pages
Published
May 13th 2002
by IndyPublish.com
(first published 1890)
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A copy of the Golden Bough is on Col. Kurtz's desk in Apocalypse Now. This is THE key text for Anglo (as opposed to German or French) anthopology in the 19th century. He takes an evolutionist approach to culture, assuming that Western modernity is the peak of civilization. That will totally grate on our contemporary post-modern relativist sensitivities, but the wealth of ethnographic and ethnological data in the work is astounding.
His theory of magic in primitive societies predates Malinowski's...more
His theory of magic in primitive societies predates Malinowski's...more
Read an abridged version of this some years ago.
It still functions as a convenient treasure trove of myths, stories and beliefs irrespective of the validity of his thesis. Having said that the choice and arrangement of his material is determined by his goals.
As a non-anthropologist I was unconvinced at placing the near-contemporary - like the horseman's word - in juxtaposition to the ancient, with the implication of a continuous tradition. It seems all a little Foucault's Pendulum. On the other...more
It still functions as a convenient treasure trove of myths, stories and beliefs irrespective of the validity of his thesis. Having said that the choice and arrangement of his material is determined by his goals.
As a non-anthropologist I was unconvinced at placing the near-contemporary - like the horseman's word - in juxtaposition to the ancient, with the implication of a continuous tradition. It seems all a little Foucault's Pendulum. On the other...more
Feb 01, 2013
Mounir
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mythology-epics-أساطير-ملا
إستمتعت كثيرا بقراءة هذه الطبعة العربية التي تحتوي على الفصول الثلاثة الأولى من الطبعة الشعبية التي قام المؤلف جيمس فريزر بنفسه بكتابتها, تلخيصا من كتابه الأصلي الضخم الذي وصل بعد عدة طبعات إلى 12 مجلد !
الفصل الأول كان صعب إلى حد ما بسبب كثرة الأسماء والأماكن من الحضارات القديمة خاصة في إيطاليا, ثم فصل قصير عن الملوك الكهنة, ثم الفصل الثالث الذي يتحدث فيه عن أنواع السحر المختلفة في المجتمعات البدائية ويسوق فيه عشرات الأمثلة الشيقة بالتفصيل من كثير من المجتمعات في قارات العالم كلها
الترجمة للدكتو...more
الفصل الأول كان صعب إلى حد ما بسبب كثرة الأسماء والأماكن من الحضارات القديمة خاصة في إيطاليا, ثم فصل قصير عن الملوك الكهنة, ثم الفصل الثالث الذي يتحدث فيه عن أنواع السحر المختلفة في المجتمعات البدائية ويسوق فيه عشرات الأمثلة الشيقة بالتفصيل من كثير من المجتمعات في قارات العالم كلها
الترجمة للدكتو...more
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This was a very hard book to get through. I'm glad I did, but it was a struggle to read it cover to cover. I tried to read this once before and had to put it down.
Basically, this book is a collection of myths, superstitions, and religious and folk practices. But Frazer sucks all of the interest out of the stories not only by his writing style, but the manner in which he treats the material. According to Frazer, anyone who believes in magic, has a religion, or otherwise participates in folk or re...more
Basically, this book is a collection of myths, superstitions, and religious and folk practices. But Frazer sucks all of the interest out of the stories not only by his writing style, but the manner in which he treats the material. According to Frazer, anyone who believes in magic, has a religion, or otherwise participates in folk or re...more
ميراث خبر: شاخه زرين، پژوهشى در جادو، مناسك و دين از سوى انتشارات آگه منتشر شده است. «شاخه زرين» كتابى پژوهشى است درباره جادو و دين كه به وسيله سر جيمز جورج فريزر، مردم شناس، نژادشناس و اديب انگليسى نوشته شده است و اينك از آثار مهم كلاسيك در مردم شناسى به حساب مى آيد كه فقدان ترجمه اى فارسى از آن از نقاط ضعف مردم شناسى معاصر ايران به حساب مى آمد. سر جيمز جورج فريزر، در بين سال هاى ۱۸۵۴ تا ۱۹۴۱ مه زيست. او از ۱۸۹۰ تا ۱۹۱۵ زندگى خود را وقف تأليف كتاب سيزده جلدى «شاخه زرين» كرد. فريزر ضمن تحقيق درب...more
A root text in cultural anthropology, but dated and clearly a case of 'armchair anthropology'.
Nonetheless Frazier has archived countless myths from cultures around the world and there are great stories and rich material for any creative venture. The overall premise is forced, though it influenced many others and started a new discipline.
Nonetheless Frazier has archived countless myths from cultures around the world and there are great stories and rich material for any creative venture. The overall premise is forced, though it influenced many others and started a new discipline.
This is a quite brilliant exposition of man's progression from superstition and primitive magic to religious belief.
The learning and anthropological detail are quite breathtaking.
'The Golden Bough' is a huge read (and this is the abridged edition!), but it repays the investment in spades.
One of my best reads of all time.
The learning and anthropological detail are quite breathtaking.
'The Golden Bough' is a huge read (and this is the abridged edition!), but it repays the investment in spades.
One of my best reads of all time.
Still reading this... the style of writing is a bit stiff, with a very Victorian slant, and the analysis requires readers to step out of their heads for a bit. Frazier draws wild parallels between magical practices across cultures without really exploring how they should be seen in sympathy with each other. I guess that's why this book is widely panned as a scholarly work. But it's still fun to read about his categorisations of various types of magic and the examples he writes about, as a way of...more
بما انها ليست أول قراءه أنثربولوجيه فإني لحظت الكثير من التكرار
بالاضافه لأن القراءه في التطور والميثولوجي تقود دائما إلى ارتباطات أنثربولوجيه
* ربط مسائل السحر والدين والعلم التي عالجها سير جيمس هنا مثيره للاهتمام جدا
بالاضافه لأن القراءه في التطور والميثولوجي تقود دائما إلى ارتباطات أنثربولوجيه
* ربط مسائل السحر والدين والعلم التي عالجها سير جيمس هنا مثيره للاهتمام جدا
Oct 08, 2008
David
is currently reading it
This book is a very deep wade. So far i am able to say that people use to be a lot crazier than they are today. I can say with certainty that I am better off a wage slaving nobody today than a person from the times described in this book. Imagine that you live in a world that believes everything to be governed by immutable physical laws that can be manipulated by magicians and priests for the benefit or ill of society. Human life means next to nothing in comparison with will of the gods and the...more
Jun 23, 2011
Joseph
is currently reading it
If I had read this when I was young I would have taken different directions in my spiritual life. But I am glad I am reading it now - much to learn.
Prepare to have your mind blown. You will perceive Adonis very differently.
Very 30's in it's view of anthropology.
This is a dense book. I had to read every sentence twice at least. It is a very good reference book to understand more about literary symbolism, scientific theory, etc. But I would recommend reading the Hero with a Thousand Faces first to ease you in to Frazer's way of writing. The books are different, but do tend to tackle similar topics.
I read this again and again; it is endlessly interesting to look at cultures through the lens of myth and ritual. The Golden Bough is agreeably gory and the author's rawther posh British sense of superiority to these colorful primitive cultures with their superstitions and pageants--even when the culture is his own--is hilarious.
really great stuff here. it smacks of a long rich history.
Basically a catalog of belief systems from all over the globe and many civilizations. Comprehensive and fascinating. Every page has such a vast wealth of information, that at times it can be a bit overwhelming. A must read for students of anthropology and comparative religion.
I had started reading this one for research for one of my art collections. It has a great number of points to start from, and was a perfect resource for me, but I'm not sure how many people would be interested in reading this "for fun" ; )
Scholarly and amazing, the commonly read version is a condensation of a twelve volume work! Ties it all in to intiation and succession rites at the Oracle at Delphi, breaks magic down into two types etc. etc. awesome, if sometimes challenging.
this is a great book if you secretly want to be an anthropologist or are otherwise into folklore. Otherwise you will probably find it pendantic. I think its interesting to watch Frazer diss religion but then superficially suck up to christianity.
Really great for those who like to know where our holidays came from and why our ancestors painted themselves blue. All the superstitions and magical reasoning behind traditions. Really boring for those who are not into mythology.
Why am I not surprised this book got a *very* good rating in general on GR? :-)
A few lines of this that caught my eye were mentioned in one of the Mortal Instruments books... I may give it a read soon.
A few lines of this that caught my eye were mentioned in one of the Mortal Instruments books... I may give it a read soon.
This book is a compilation of legends, myths, rites and rituals of lesser known traditions, a good place to start for anyone wishing to broaden thier understanding of religions of the world.
Points for thoroughness, but somehow Frazer manages to make the most exciting of myths seem rather dry, which is no small feat. Excellent work of scholarship, not terribly entertaining.
An absolutely fantastic read for a lover of all things myth and religion. It's a great philsophical look at the emergence and values of different religious traditions.
Jul 15, 2008
Melissa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who mistakingly thinks Joseph Campbell was revolutionary
Shelves:
the-canon
Completely obsessive-compulsive project here. Rather than reading the 12 volumes, I chose the abridged version. Still a bit hard to get through but fascinating study!
Sep 18, 2008
Adam Wilmer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Students
Recommended to Adam by:
Unknown
A bit of a dry read, but honestly helps one understand the human need and desire to assign meaning to a world where perhaps there is none.
I actually have the full twelve volume unabridged version, but it was easier to just list one book than volume by volume
A must, there is just so much to learn here, the root and evolution of thought through magic to science and beyond
Anyone who hasn't read this book - get it now! The key to understanding literature from Gilgamesh to C.S. Lewis...
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Scottish social anthropologist influential in the early stages of the modern studies of mythology and comparative religion.
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“Hence the strong attraction which magic and science alike have exercised on the human mind; hence the powerful stimulus that both have given to the pursuit of knowledge. They lure the weary enquirer, the footsore seeker, on through the wilderness of disappointment in the present by their endless promises of the future: they take him up to the top of an exceeding high mountain and show him, beyond the dark clouds and rolling mists at his feet, a vision of the celestial city, far off, it may be, but radiant with unearthly splendour, bathed in the light of dreams.”
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