Lewis Hyde wrote an astounding book called The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property, which has recently been republished with a new subtitle and a poorly chosen cover. But don't let that stop you from reading it. Writer Jonathan Lethem said: "Few books are such life-changers as ‘The Gift’: epiphany, in sculpted prose.”
I agree.
Mr. Hyde uses his book to criticize capitalism and to place artists in the realm of "gift culture"; a construct that is the origin of the pejorative "Indian giver."
The Gift is a paean to art, a survey of folk narratives and a poem masquerading as prose, which is to say the book defies accurate description. Most of the copies I have seen were shared among friends, dog-eared and in danger of falling apart at the seams.
It's that good.
Get a copy, read it and give it away.
I agree.
Mr. Hyde uses his book to criticize capitalism and to place artists in the realm of "gift culture"; a construct that is the origin of the pejorative "Indian giver."
The Gift is a paean to art, a survey of folk narratives and a poem masquerading as prose, which is to say the book defies accurate description. Most of the copies I have seen were shared among friends, dog-eared and in danger of falling apart at the seams.
It's that good.
Get a copy, read it and give it away.
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