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lukre's review
3.5
After a very long hiatus I returned to this book today and I just binged it.
the reason I put it on hiatus is its overgeneralisation and ad nauseam repetition of the same arguments and the same comments. This continued in the latter part of the book, but I've decided to read all my physical books!
This gives a fairly comprenesive overview of the violence/sacrifice/sacred in human society - the emergence of them, the ritual importance and the overall importance those played (and still play) in the formation and continuation of societies.
the reason I put it on hiatus is its overgeneralisation and ad nauseam repetition of the same arguments and the same comments. This continued in the latter part of the book, but I've decided to read all my physical books!
This gives a fairly comprenesive overview of the violence/sacrifice/sacred in human society - the emergence of them, the ritual importance and the overall importance those played (and still play) in the formation and continuation of societies.
whitneyborup's review
4.0
Reread for exams. This time all the way through. I think I could have stopped half way.
piccoline's review
4.0
Provocative and brilliant ideas lurk within, ideas that scramble one's view of civilization, religion, and violence. But at the same time, it's a difficult book to get through. The book's at its best when it is directly engaging various rites and works of art. There are some drier stretches here and there, but the overall effect is amazing. Looking forward to more from René.
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