So I minored in anthropology. That means nothing in the grand scheme, but I can tell you with certainty that I was far more interested in my anthropology classes than I was in my photography classes. That’s called foreshadowing, or irony, or both.
During this period I was introduced to Claude Levi-Strauss and his work Tristes Tropiques. I was hooked. Now, I wasn’t smart enough to understand it all, and back then my primary driving focus in life was finding $.10 pitchers of beer. No joke. You could buy ten cent pitchers of beer. Heaven. Damnit, I’m getting distracted again.
The book made an impact on me, so I went looking for more. Myth and Meaning was next. Now, the version I’m showing here is a diet version based on a series of lectures the author did for Canadian Radio. I bought this at the student coop in Austin in 1990, and I paid $8.95 which seems REALLY high. Also, I made notes on the title page.
They are as follows.
2 India ink
muffin trays
wash brush
“Reubens Masters of Renaissance Drawings.”
No idea what this means. No memory of making those notes.
The book is heavy. It’s 54-pages long. But, if you really THINK about what the author is saying you will GRIND on these things for the rest of your life. Leave it on your coffee table. People will think you are smart. What is the role of myth in culture, how does it react to science? How does Myth play in history and what is the relationship to music.
Get it, read it.
Comments 7
Daniel-
What is your process of choosing and buying books?(not kindle versions)
Scanning used book stores? 1st day air shipping on amazon prime for new paperbacks? Library?
What goes into your thought process when choosing?
Author
Tyler,
Any chance I get, library. Just don’t have room for more books in my already crowded library. Sometimes via Amazon to my Kindle, when I’m traveling mostly. Subject matter comes from everywhere. Friends, recommendations, Good Reads, but is also about balance. Fiction vs nonfiction. History, biography and then will counter with great novel. There is SO much to learn. Also like classics.
Author
Tyler,
I also believe that you can’t really get the truth via the media today. At least it’s not EASY to do so. Most of the time when a big story breaks I wait until the books come out. Tend to get far more information, and more accurate information.
Sounds kind of like Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth. Added it to my list.
Also check your own public library Kindle link. My public library has a partnership with various sources to check out books and download them to my reader. Some of them allow you to send the book straight to the device. https://idm.overdrive.com/idm-monroe/content
Author
Eric,
We have that too but in two years I’ve never been able to get it to work, nor has the library been able to get it to work either….I love checking out books in paper form.
Heh I majored in Anthropology. Only think I remember from those days is the word “ethnocentrism.”