The Early Writings of Bronislaw Malinowski

by Robert J. Thornton (Editor), Peter Skalník (Editor), Bronisław Malinowski

Bronislaw Malinowski, born and educated in Poland, helped to establish British social anthropology. His classic monographs on the Trobriand Islanders were published between 1922 and 1935, when he was professor of anthropology at the London School of Economics. This collection of Malinowski's early writings establishes the intellectual background to his achievement, and shows how his considerable impact on twentieth-century thought is rooted in the late nineteenth-century philosophy of central Europe, especially the work of Ernst Mach and Friedrich Nietzsche, and in the ethnological theories of James Frazer.

Genres: Anthropology

344 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 1993

Reviews

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nietzsche's article here is the most interesting thing Malinowski has ever written and a direct inspiration on his studies of myths.

His other early writings are also enriching and show witty commentary about early anthropological concerns.

[Suncan Stone]

The long winded introduction made me think that the only reason this book was published was so that Robert J. Thornton and Peter Skalnik (eds.) could show off their reasing abilities. It certainly seems that they have read it all... And they certainly did not just buy the T-shirt (been there, done that...) They wrote a 66 page introduction (which follows the preface not included in this number). Well and then you come to the nitty gritty. Only to discover this is not truly the case... The earliest text in this book was written by a 20 year old Malinowsky... Let's face it, he was a mere toddler in any sort of science at that point. And then he rambles on some more... Pretty much shows us that he has read everything on the subject (which was at the time a new one, so not much reading to do). So anyway, just so I don't ramble on and on... probably a book by Malinowsky you can easily skip. Only for the true affectionado.
Would advise novices to read one of his other books - anyone that is a detailed study of a certain culture or environment.