Excesses: Eros and Culture

By Alphonso Lingis

Book Overview

Excesses is a very successful attempt to break out of the closets in which we conceptualize our identity and our eros. Lingis has travelled to, and participated in, some of the last remaining oases of "primitive" cultures. He combines an obvious poet's eye with a not-so-obvious philosophical ability to discriminate systematically and to generalize. We are helped to see the shape--and limitations--of one of our own cultural identity through the amazing contrasts which Lingis sets up like screens for our inspection.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0873957962
• ISBN13: 9780873957960
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr
• Length: 166 Pages
• Weight: 2.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Eye-opening book for philosophers and others

Lingis deftly weaves together themes from western philosophy and non-western cultures. A fun read for those with a taste for mental exploration. But beware, this book is not for the faint of heart. Lingis' globe-trekking journeys take him to some unusual, and sometimes disturbing, places.