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The Gift
How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World
Series: Canons
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 3,155 ratings, 485 reviews)
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The Gift
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Widely acknowledged as one of the definitive texts on art theory, The Gift brilliantly argues for the importance of creativity in our increasingly money-driven society, reaching deep into literature, anthropology and psychology.
Introduced by Margaret Atwood
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Description
The Gift by Lewis Hyde is a profound exploration of the role of creativity in a world increasingly dominated by money and materialism. At its core, this modern masterpiece delves into the very nature of a "gift" and examines how it can inspire and transform our lives, art, and culture. Hyde weaves together insights from literature, anthropology, and psychology to illustrate his points, offering a compelling argument for the necessity of creativity and generosity in human society.
The book is an intellectual journey that questions the commodification of art and culture, reminding us of the intrinsic values that lie beyond monetary exchange. Through rich, historical examples and philosophical discourse, Hyde argues that creative works should be viewed as gifts that enrich the human spirit rather than commodities to be bought and sold. His eloquent prose challenges readers to rethink their relationship with creativity and consider how acts of giving can redefine success and fulfilment.
Lewis Hyde's influence extends far and wide, having been championed by some of the greatest contemporary artists and thinkers. His work addresses pressing questions and dilemmas that we encounter in both our public and private lives, making it a timeless and relevant read.
"A masterpiece. The Gift is the best book I know of for the aspiring young, for talented but unacknowledged creators, or even for those who have achieved material success and are worried that this means they've sold out. It gets at the core of their dilemma: how to maintain yourself alive in a world of money, when the essential part of what you do cannot be bought or sold." - Margaret Atwood
"Reminds us of our cultural gifts and our responsibilities to them. A manifesto of sorts. In a climate where we know the price of everything and the value of nothing, Lewis Hyde offers us an account of those few, essential aspects of human experience that transcend commodity, or that will do so, if you let them." - Zadie Smith
The Gift is not just a philosophical treatise; it is a call to action, urging readers to embrace creativity and gift-giving as essential aspects of a fulfilling life. Hyde's eloquence and insight provide a beacon of hope and inspiration for anyone grappling with the complexities of balancing art and commerce in today's world.
Series: Canons
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The Gift
The Gift by Lewis Hyde is a profound exploration of the role of creativity in a world increasingly dominated by money and materialism. At its core, this modern masterpiece delves into the very nature of a "gift" and examines how it can inspire and transform our lives, art, and culture. Hyde weaves together insights from literature, anthropology, and psychology to...Paperback$3000Elsewhere:$3299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Gift by Lewis Hyde is highly praised as a profound and transformative work that deeply resonates with artists, creators, and anyone grappling with the relationship between art and commerce. Reviewers applaud its insightful cultural critique, highlighting its ability to change perspectives on the intrinsic value of creativity. The book is described as brilliant, erudite, and essential reading for those invested in the true essence of art and human experience.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780857868473
Publisher: Canongate Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 06 December 2012
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Canongate Canons
Edition: Main - Canons Imprint Re-issue
Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 22.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 281g
Pages: 384
About the Author
Lewis Hyde was born in Boston and studied at the Universities of Minnesota and Iowa. In addition to The Gift, he is the author of Trickster Makes this World, a portrait of the kind of disruptive imagination that all cultures need if they are to remain lively and open to change. Editor of On the Poetry of Allen Ginsberg and The Essays of Henry D. Thoreau, Hyde's most recent book is Common as Air, a stirring defence of our cultural commons, that vast store of art and ideas we have inherited from the past and continue to enrich in the present. A MacArthur Fellow and former Director of Creative Writing at Harvard, Hyde is currently the Professor of Creative Writing at Kenyon College in Ohio.
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