Encyclopedia of Taboos

By Lynn Holden

Book Overview

From ancient times to the present, taboos have affected our societies, as demonstrated in this encyclopedia full of unusual information from around the world.

The topic of taboos has rarely been discussed in any comprehensive way in recent years, as though the word itself has become taboo in our efforts to dispel the myth of the irrationality of supposedly 'primitive' cultures. The Encyclopedia of Taboos is a mine of unusual information from around the world, including a comprehensive analysis of individual taboos from the ancient world to the present day, covering both well- and lesser-known examples.

The A-Z articles cover the topics naturally associated with the concept of taboo--incest, cannibalism, pollution, food, art, dress, sex, and death--and also the foremost writers on the subject, including Sigmund Freud, Mary Douglas, Edmund Leach, Franz Steiner, and Frederick Barth.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1576070697
• ISBN13: 9781576070697
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: ABC-CLIO
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.0" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Allows for quick reference to particular taboos

From the origins of manners and etiquette to taboo behaviors and ideas in societies, Encyclopedia Of Taboos provides a variety of insights on taboos by such notable writers as Freud, Steiner and Barth. The encyclopedic organization allows for quick reference to particular taboos and their social and cultural implications.