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What's in a Name

Series: ERIS gems
Brief Description
Why is a dog “Fido” but a bird “Peter”? In this brilliant short text, Claude Lévi-Strauss shows that the way we name animals reveals a hidden structure of thought. What looks trivial turns out to be a system: classification, metaphor, and how we place ourselves in... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Claude Lévi-Strauss shows that the way we name animals reveals a hidden structure of thought.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Why is a dog “Fido” but a bird “Peter”? In this brilliant short text, Claude Lévi-Strauss shows that the way we name animals reveals a hidden structure of thought. What looks trivial turns out to be a system: classification, metaphor, and how we place ourselves in the world, everything is at play. Clear, surprising, and quietly profound, this short essay will change how you see the ordinary.

What's in a Name offers insights that will transform your understanding of the commonplace. Through this exploration, Lévi-Strauss deciphers the significance of names and their underlying meanings, encouraging readers to ponder the metaphoric and classificatory nature of language.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781971559308

Publisher: ERIS

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 August 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: ERIS

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 110.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 18

About the Author

Claude Lévi-Strauss was a French anthropologist and one of the founding figures of structuralism. His work sought to uncover the underlying patterns shaping human culture, myth, and thought. He is widely regarded as one of the most important intellectuals of the twentieth century.

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