Reviews

The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World by Lewis Hyde

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millamoi's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective

5.0

espea's review against another edition

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Subject matter was not what I expected, writing style dull.

dyslexzak's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring slow-paced

3.0

Some of it was very interesting, but I found parts hard to understand. The later chapters on particular artists were incredibly dense and difficult to understand. I wasn't sure what it had to do with the overall subject of the book.
Overall, probably worth reading for artists, but I think you'd get the most out of it by skipping around and only reading the parts that interest you most.

ocurtsinger's review against another edition

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3.0

This book is more than a book and more than a gift. It is a testimony to a way of living that asks the reader to be more engaged with humanity and the things (physical or emotional) we share. Like an anthropologist, Hyde follows the tradition of gift giving through ancient folktales and cultural practices and applies the lessons learned to what it means to be a modern human with something to give to society, whether that gift is talent, wealth, or insight. The existence of this book is a gift in itself, and reading it may unwrap a gift within you that you've been waiting to recognize and pass along.