Four Ways of Being Human

by Gene Lisitzky and Gene Lisitizky

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: B002BWIIF4
• Release Date: January 1967
• Publisher: Compass Books
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

No new research but excellent overview of 4 cultures

I picked this up first because it had an overview of the Tangata Whenua of New Zealand, the Maori which proved immensely good. An excellent precis of the history and culture of the Maori of this country. However this books strength is in the comparison of the 4 native cultures chosen, the Inuit of the north, the Semang of Asia and the HOpi of North America. Although Lisitzky does not spend time comparing the cultures, the structure of each chapter is similar and the comparisons can be made by the reader. Each culture is given a section and each section divided up. The important elements of their history, daily life, sleeping, eating, roles, warfare, food gathering and spirituality are noted and in relation to their climate and geography. I found each section revelatory. The history of the Inuit People was especially so for me. I had always imagined the hardship and coldness of it, but Lisitzky pointed out the way of life meant that in the coldest winter months they live as though in sauna's due to the structure of their houses (which are not by the way simply igloos, but rather stone houses). As noted before, this is not new research, rather Lisitzky has ably gathered together a great deal of written material to compile these. The strength of these chapters is that they reflect the daily life the cultures and their ways, which is also given in context to the it being pre-colonial interference. The information is concise and very easily read. There are line drawings showing appropriate artefacts or tools. Highly recommended reading, quick, interesting and richl source of information. Each chapter has a good bibliography of reference material used.