Cannibalism

by Hans Askenasy

Book Overview

Psychologist Hans Askenasy has put together the first comprehensive history of a subject combining violence, horror, and exotic customs. In Part One of his study, Dr. Askenasy gives a historical and geographic overview of humankind's practice of and attitudes toward cannibalism.Part Two discusses motivational factors for cannibalism, including famines (natural and man-made), survival in extreme situations, magic, ritual, and madness. Among the people...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879759062
• ISBN13: 9780879759063
• Release Date: November 1994
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A thoughtful study of the subject

This is a great overview book for anyone interested in the topic of cannibalism. While there are a lot of stories that are dealt with in a cursory manner, there is enough analysis to make the book truly worthwhile. The author explores the motivations for breaking of "the last taboo" and includes lots of historical examples of each of those motivations. By asking thought provoking questions of the reader, Askenaasy puts you in the place of those who are alleged to have eaten their fellow man. He also asks the reader to question third party "evidence" and shows how not all that we read is necessarily true even given reliable sources. The book certainly left me thinking more about the topic than ever before and in news ways.

Great book, very informative

This is a great book for anyone interested in the anthropological aspects of cannabilism. Its not so scholarly that you can't grasp what are the cultural roots of the behavior in each case, and it covers many cases around the world. It can be a bit graphic, which is normal considering the subject matter. A good book for anyone interested in the philisophical issues surrounding an extremely taboo behavior.