Book description
Discusses the argument that a work of art is essentially a gift and not a commodity.
- Coming soon!
Why read it?
1 author picked The Gift as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Before there was money, people bartered one kind of stuff they had in abundance for another kind that they needed (or wanted). That may be true, but little appreciated in our market-oriented Western worldview, there was once an even older gift economy.
The Gift, among other related topics, explores the gift economy, which characterized the lifeways of many American Indian peoples. Hyde provides the key to understanding many of the stories in our book.
Hunters are portrayed as “visiting” the lodges of beavers, moose, and bear. They come bearing gifts that only humans can create through artifice or cultivation: knives…
From J.'s list on American Indian worldviews and ecological wisdom.
If you love The Gift...
Natural Religion: A None's Journey of Religious Discovery
My grandfather, Earl Clement Davis (1876-1953) was a Unitarian minister from 1905-1953. Born a year after he died, I never knew him. But I inherited a trunk of his manuscripts. Growing up without any religion, I was surprised to discover in these century-old writings a compelling approach to religion, one…
Want books like The Gift?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Gift.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,276
readers submitted
so far, will you?
