Cannibalism in Cross Cultural Perspective

Cannibalism in Cross Cultural Perspective

Author: David A. Ezzo

Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing

Published: 2008-04

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13: 1598586068

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The central purpose of this book is to show that cannibalism has been practiced under certain conditions in a variety of cultures throughout the world. Twenty-five different cultures are presented in this book. The types of cannibalism covered include: exo-cannibalism, judicial, survival, endocannibalism, human sacrifice, biting, infanticide, funeral, slave, and Windigo and cannibalism. The origins and philosophy of cannibalism as well as cannibalism's relationship with food taboos and religion are also discussed. David A. Ezzo has been involved with the study of Native American Indian history and culture for over twenty-five years. His interest in the subject matter frist began when he earned his Indian Lore merit badge from Mr. Ronald P. Koch when he was 15 years old. His interest in the topic continued when he served as an Indian Lore counselor at Camp Turner for four summers in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983. David began his academic study of Native Americans when he earned a BA degree in Anthropology from SUNY Fredonia in 1985. While at Fredonia he wrote two published articles and co-wrote a third article with one of his professors, Dr. Alvin H. Morrison. This article was presented at the 16th Algonquian Conference and was published a year later in 1986. David earned his MA in Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma in 1987. During his time at the University of Oklahoma he presented several papers including one at a Frontier Conference at OU in 1986 and also a paper at the Algonquian Conference. His MA thesis was also written on a Native American topic. The title of his thesis "Female Status in Northeastern North America" was a historical survey of the roles of Native American women in a number of Algonquian societies. During subsequent years David continued to attend and publish papers at Algonquian Conferences. He also continued to serve as a BSA Indian Merit badge counselor. In June of 2005 David earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Richardson University. Also in August of 2005 he was appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Erie Community College (North Campus). In July of 2007 David published his first book "Papers on Historical Algonquian and Iroquois Topics" which he co-authored with Michael H. Moskowitz. This book was also published by Dog Ear Publishing.


Book Synopsis Cannibalism in Cross Cultural Perspective by : David A. Ezzo

Download or read book Cannibalism in Cross Cultural Perspective written by David A. Ezzo and published by Dog Ear Publishing. This book was released on 2008-04 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The central purpose of this book is to show that cannibalism has been practiced under certain conditions in a variety of cultures throughout the world. Twenty-five different cultures are presented in this book. The types of cannibalism covered include: exo-cannibalism, judicial, survival, endocannibalism, human sacrifice, biting, infanticide, funeral, slave, and Windigo and cannibalism. The origins and philosophy of cannibalism as well as cannibalism's relationship with food taboos and religion are also discussed. David A. Ezzo has been involved with the study of Native American Indian history and culture for over twenty-five years. His interest in the subject matter frist began when he earned his Indian Lore merit badge from Mr. Ronald P. Koch when he was 15 years old. His interest in the topic continued when he served as an Indian Lore counselor at Camp Turner for four summers in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983. David began his academic study of Native Americans when he earned a BA degree in Anthropology from SUNY Fredonia in 1985. While at Fredonia he wrote two published articles and co-wrote a third article with one of his professors, Dr. Alvin H. Morrison. This article was presented at the 16th Algonquian Conference and was published a year later in 1986. David earned his MA in Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma in 1987. During his time at the University of Oklahoma he presented several papers including one at a Frontier Conference at OU in 1986 and also a paper at the Algonquian Conference. His MA thesis was also written on a Native American topic. The title of his thesis "Female Status in Northeastern North America" was a historical survey of the roles of Native American women in a number of Algonquian societies. During subsequent years David continued to attend and publish papers at Algonquian Conferences. He also continued to serve as a BSA Indian Merit badge counselor. In June of 2005 David earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Richardson University. Also in August of 2005 he was appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Erie Community College (North Campus). In July of 2007 David published his first book "Papers on Historical Algonquian and Iroquois Topics" which he co-authored with Michael H. Moskowitz. This book was also published by Dog Ear Publishing.


Cannibals and Kings

Cannibals and Kings

Author: Marvin Harris

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 1991-06-04

Total Pages: 369

ISBN-13: 067972849X

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In this brilliant and profound study the distinguished American anthropologist Marvin Harris shows how the endless varieties of cultural behavior -- often so puzzling at first glance -- can be explained as adaptations to particular ecological conditions. His aim is to account for the evolution of cultural forms as Darwin accounted for the evolution of biological forms: to show how cultures adopt their characteristic forms in response to changing ecological modes. "[A] magisterial interpretation of the rise and fall of human cultures and societies." -- Robert Lekachman, Washington Post Book World "Its persuasive arguments asserting the primacy of cultural rather than genetic or psychological factors in human life deserve the widest possible audience." -- Gloria Levitas The New Leader "[An] original and...urgent theory about the nature of man and at the reason that human cultures take so many diverse shapes." -- The New Yorker "Lively and controversial." -- I. Bernard Cohen, front page, The New York Times Book Review


Book Synopsis Cannibals and Kings by : Marvin Harris

Download or read book Cannibals and Kings written by Marvin Harris and published by Vintage. This book was released on 1991-06-04 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this brilliant and profound study the distinguished American anthropologist Marvin Harris shows how the endless varieties of cultural behavior -- often so puzzling at first glance -- can be explained as adaptations to particular ecological conditions. His aim is to account for the evolution of cultural forms as Darwin accounted for the evolution of biological forms: to show how cultures adopt their characteristic forms in response to changing ecological modes. "[A] magisterial interpretation of the rise and fall of human cultures and societies." -- Robert Lekachman, Washington Post Book World "Its persuasive arguments asserting the primacy of cultural rather than genetic or psychological factors in human life deserve the widest possible audience." -- Gloria Levitas The New Leader "[An] original and...urgent theory about the nature of man and at the reason that human cultures take so many diverse shapes." -- The New Yorker "Lively and controversial." -- I. Bernard Cohen, front page, The New York Times Book Review


Perspectives on Cannibalism. A Comparison of William Aren, Beth Conklin and Lindenbaum

Perspectives on Cannibalism. A Comparison of William Aren, Beth Conklin and Lindenbaum

Author: Patrick Kimuyu

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2017-12-11

Total Pages: 7

ISBN-13: 366859208X

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Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject Pedagogy - Science, Theory, Anthropology, grade: 1, Egerton University, language: English, abstract: The topic of cannibalism in anthropology seems to encompass an unprecedented controversy, owing to the diverse perspectives of different anthropologists. It has remained as one of the ancient taboos across cultures although it is surrounded by mystery, speculation, myth, fear and symbolism. Historically, the practice of cannibalism is believed to have survived across cultures over centuries to the modern times and, its significance in different cultures varies significantly. Some cultures considered cannibalism as a revered and sacred custom but, in other cultures, it was considered as a sacrilegious and an atrocious practice. It is worth noting that cannibalism seems to have existed among communities, although William Aren’s book "The Man-Eating Myth: Anthropology & Anthropophagy" portrayed the seemingly old-age practice as a myth. This literature sparked an unprecedented criticism from a number of anthropologists such as Beth A. Conklin and Lindenbaum who gave contradictory perspectives. Therefore, this essay will give a comprehensive discussion of the different perspectives from Aren, Conklin and Lindenbaum over the issue of cannibalism.


Book Synopsis Perspectives on Cannibalism. A Comparison of William Aren, Beth Conklin and Lindenbaum by : Patrick Kimuyu

Download or read book Perspectives on Cannibalism. A Comparison of William Aren, Beth Conklin and Lindenbaum written by Patrick Kimuyu and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2017-12-11 with total page 7 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject Pedagogy - Science, Theory, Anthropology, grade: 1, Egerton University, language: English, abstract: The topic of cannibalism in anthropology seems to encompass an unprecedented controversy, owing to the diverse perspectives of different anthropologists. It has remained as one of the ancient taboos across cultures although it is surrounded by mystery, speculation, myth, fear and symbolism. Historically, the practice of cannibalism is believed to have survived across cultures over centuries to the modern times and, its significance in different cultures varies significantly. Some cultures considered cannibalism as a revered and sacred custom but, in other cultures, it was considered as a sacrilegious and an atrocious practice. It is worth noting that cannibalism seems to have existed among communities, although William Aren’s book "The Man-Eating Myth: Anthropology & Anthropophagy" portrayed the seemingly old-age practice as a myth. This literature sparked an unprecedented criticism from a number of anthropologists such as Beth A. Conklin and Lindenbaum who gave contradictory perspectives. Therefore, this essay will give a comprehensive discussion of the different perspectives from Aren, Conklin and Lindenbaum over the issue of cannibalism.


Divine Hunger

Divine Hunger

Author: Peggy Reeves Sanday

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1986-07-25

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 9780521311144

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A new approach to understanding the phenomenon of ritual cannibalism through a detailed examination of selected tribal societies demonstrates that the practice is closely linked to people's orientation to the world, and helps distinguish "cultural self."


Book Synopsis Divine Hunger by : Peggy Reeves Sanday

Download or read book Divine Hunger written by Peggy Reeves Sanday and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1986-07-25 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A new approach to understanding the phenomenon of ritual cannibalism through a detailed examination of selected tribal societies demonstrates that the practice is closely linked to people's orientation to the world, and helps distinguish "cultural self."


Cannibal Context

Cannibal Context

Author: Jill Rycerz

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 67

ISBN-13:

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In the purest form a cannibal can be defined as a person who consumes the body of another. However, this simple definition does not fully illustrate the stigmas associated with this word. Since the creation of this word, European explorers have made gains by referring to people of other cultures as “cannibals.” The contemporary usage has evolved and the potential for a neutral description of man-eating was lost when a European explorer descried it as “cannibalism” for the first time. When accusations of cannibalism are read from historical documents such as travel narratives or ship logs, the limitations of the European author’s world view are shared. Thus, the original man-eating experience was transformed into a new context. European explorers were faced a variety of anxieties including dangers associated with travel, pressures from financial sponsors, and a dependency on natural resources. Projection and displacement of these anxieties onto the indigenous people could have been coping mechanisms that created the cannibal context. By shifting the subject of inquiry from those being accused to those who have made the accusation of cannibalism, it becomes clear that the explorers were in fact projecting and displacement their own fears of man-eating onto others.


Book Synopsis Cannibal Context by : Jill Rycerz

Download or read book Cannibal Context written by Jill Rycerz and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the purest form a cannibal can be defined as a person who consumes the body of another. However, this simple definition does not fully illustrate the stigmas associated with this word. Since the creation of this word, European explorers have made gains by referring to people of other cultures as “cannibals.” The contemporary usage has evolved and the potential for a neutral description of man-eating was lost when a European explorer descried it as “cannibalism” for the first time. When accusations of cannibalism are read from historical documents such as travel narratives or ship logs, the limitations of the European author’s world view are shared. Thus, the original man-eating experience was transformed into a new context. European explorers were faced a variety of anxieties including dangers associated with travel, pressures from financial sponsors, and a dependency on natural resources. Projection and displacement of these anxieties onto the indigenous people could have been coping mechanisms that created the cannibal context. By shifting the subject of inquiry from those being accused to those who have made the accusation of cannibalism, it becomes clear that the explorers were in fact projecting and displacement their own fears of man-eating onto others.


Eating Their Words

Eating Their Words

Author: Kristen Guest

Publisher: State University of New York Press

Published: 2001-09-06

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 0791490017

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Linking cannibalism to issues of difference crucial to contemporary literary criticism and theory, the essays included here cover material from a variety of contexts and historical periods and approach their subjects from a range of critical perspectives. Along with such canonical works as The Odyssey, The Faerie Queene, and Robinson Crusoe, the contributors also discuss lesser known works, including a version of the Victorian melodrama Sweeny Todd, as well as contemporary postcolonial and postmodern novels by Margaret Atwood and Ian Wedde. Taken together, these essays re-theorize the relationship between cannibalism and cultural identity, making cannibalism meaningful within new critical and cultural horizons. Contributors include Mark Buchan, Santiago Colas, Marlene Goldman, Brian Greenspan, Kristen Guest, Minaz Jooma, Robert Viking O'Brien, Geoffrey Sanborn, and Julia M. Wright.


Book Synopsis Eating Their Words by : Kristen Guest

Download or read book Eating Their Words written by Kristen Guest and published by State University of New York Press. This book was released on 2001-09-06 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Linking cannibalism to issues of difference crucial to contemporary literary criticism and theory, the essays included here cover material from a variety of contexts and historical periods and approach their subjects from a range of critical perspectives. Along with such canonical works as The Odyssey, The Faerie Queene, and Robinson Crusoe, the contributors also discuss lesser known works, including a version of the Victorian melodrama Sweeny Todd, as well as contemporary postcolonial and postmodern novels by Margaret Atwood and Ian Wedde. Taken together, these essays re-theorize the relationship between cannibalism and cultural identity, making cannibalism meaningful within new critical and cultural horizons. Contributors include Mark Buchan, Santiago Colas, Marlene Goldman, Brian Greenspan, Kristen Guest, Minaz Jooma, Robert Viking O'Brien, Geoffrey Sanborn, and Julia M. Wright.


Cannibalism and the Colonial World

Cannibalism and the Colonial World

Author: Francis Barker

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1998-08-06

Total Pages: 330

ISBN-13: 9780521629089

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In Cannibalism and the Colonial World, published in 1998, an international team of specialists from a variety of disciplines - anthropology, literature, art history - discusses the historical and cultural significance of western fascination with the topic of cannibalism. Addressing the image as it appears in a series of texts - popular culture, film, literature, travel writing and anthropology - the essays range from classical times to contemporary critical discourse. Cannibalism and the Colonial World examines western fascination with the figure of the cannibal and how this has impacted on the representation of the non-western world. This group of literary and anthropological scholars analyses the way cannibalism continues to exist as a term within colonial discourse and places the discussion of cannibalism in the context of postcolonial and cultural studies.


Book Synopsis Cannibalism and the Colonial World by : Francis Barker

Download or read book Cannibalism and the Colonial World written by Francis Barker and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1998-08-06 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Cannibalism and the Colonial World, published in 1998, an international team of specialists from a variety of disciplines - anthropology, literature, art history - discusses the historical and cultural significance of western fascination with the topic of cannibalism. Addressing the image as it appears in a series of texts - popular culture, film, literature, travel writing and anthropology - the essays range from classical times to contemporary critical discourse. Cannibalism and the Colonial World examines western fascination with the figure of the cannibal and how this has impacted on the representation of the non-western world. This group of literary and anthropological scholars analyses the way cannibalism continues to exist as a term within colonial discourse and places the discussion of cannibalism in the context of postcolonial and cultural studies.


Consuming Grief

Consuming Grief

Author: Beth A. Conklin

Publisher: University of Texas Press

Published: 2010-01-10

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 0292782543

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Mourning the death of loved ones and recovering from their loss are universal human experiences, yet the grieving process is as different between cultures as it is among individuals. As late as the 1960s, the Wari' Indians of the western Amazonian rainforest ate the roasted flesh of their dead as an expression of compassion for the deceased and for his or her close relatives. By removing and transforming the corpse, which embodied ties between the living and the dead and was a focus of grief for the family of the deceased, Wari' death rites helped the bereaved kin accept their loss and go on with their lives. Drawing on the recollections of Wari' elders who participated in consuming the dead, this book presents one of the richest, most authoritative ethnographic accounts of funerary cannibalism ever recorded. Beth Conklin explores Wari' conceptions of person, body, and spirit, as well as indigenous understandings of memory and emotion, to explain why the Wari' felt that corpses must be destroyed and why they preferred cannibalism over cremation. Her findings challenge many commonly held beliefs about cannibalism and show why, in Wari' terms, it was considered the most honorable and compassionate way of treating the dead.


Book Synopsis Consuming Grief by : Beth A. Conklin

Download or read book Consuming Grief written by Beth A. Conklin and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2010-01-10 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mourning the death of loved ones and recovering from their loss are universal human experiences, yet the grieving process is as different between cultures as it is among individuals. As late as the 1960s, the Wari' Indians of the western Amazonian rainforest ate the roasted flesh of their dead as an expression of compassion for the deceased and for his or her close relatives. By removing and transforming the corpse, which embodied ties between the living and the dead and was a focus of grief for the family of the deceased, Wari' death rites helped the bereaved kin accept their loss and go on with their lives. Drawing on the recollections of Wari' elders who participated in consuming the dead, this book presents one of the richest, most authoritative ethnographic accounts of funerary cannibalism ever recorded. Beth Conklin explores Wari' conceptions of person, body, and spirit, as well as indigenous understandings of memory and emotion, to explain why the Wari' felt that corpses must be destroyed and why they preferred cannibalism over cremation. Her findings challenge many commonly held beliefs about cannibalism and show why, in Wari' terms, it was considered the most honorable and compassionate way of treating the dead.


HUMAN CANNIBALISM Volume 8

HUMAN CANNIBALISM Volume 8

Author: David Soulsby

Publisher:

Published: 2019-12-04

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 9781711632902

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The proposed work is a study of ethnic and cultural cannibalism in Australia and the greater Oceania region from prehistoric times to the present day. This is the eighth volume in a series of books on human cannibalism world-wide. The work includes source material ranging from recent scientific publications and journalism to the older narratives of missionaries, explorers, and anthropologists.An approach of comparative analysis is adopted in which many ethno-historical and scientific sources are presented for comparison. The work is not intended to be strictly academic because primary, secondary, and popular sources are used, but it is intended to be thorough, accessible, and incorporates many interesting human stories. Recent historical and archaeological information is provided to further assist substantiation or refutation of accounts of human cannibalism. This is where it is hoped that the work will differ from, and improve upon what has gone before . By virtue of the ethno-historical record, most information about cannibalism has come from the early modern and modern periods. The challenge has been to find a way of discussing a cultural practice that is odious to Western sensitivities, while paradoxically exerting a lurid attraction over the popular imagination.The work is founded upon scientific controversy over the actual existence or true extent of cannibalism among humans, which really began with publication of 'The Man-Eating Myth' by anthropologist William Arens in 1979. Over subsequent years archaeological discoveries have appeared to at least partly refute Arens' claims that stories of man-eating in the ethno-historical record are largely nonsense or fantasy.Debate on the subject among anthropologists has not ended, and incidents of cannibalism continue to occur in some of the world's most intractable trouble-spots. This work predominantly covers beliefs, mythologies, and reports of assumed or actual cannibalistic practices in ethnic groups world-wide. The approach used compares and contrasts evidence to assess the veracity of reports of cannibalism among human societies. Written and verbal ethno-historical accounts (with many quotations) are combined and compared with modern anthropological and archaeological data where these are available. Wherever possible primary sources have been used. The structure of the work is mainly geographical, but there are also sections covering cannibalism in prehistory, from which some of the best evidence has emerged. Sensationalism has been deliberately avoided and no judgements are cast upon peoples reported to be man-eaters. The work simply aims to determine, as far as possible, whether a particular group were cannibalistic, and if so, why.


Book Synopsis HUMAN CANNIBALISM Volume 8 by : David Soulsby

Download or read book HUMAN CANNIBALISM Volume 8 written by David Soulsby and published by . This book was released on 2019-12-04 with total page 450 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The proposed work is a study of ethnic and cultural cannibalism in Australia and the greater Oceania region from prehistoric times to the present day. This is the eighth volume in a series of books on human cannibalism world-wide. The work includes source material ranging from recent scientific publications and journalism to the older narratives of missionaries, explorers, and anthropologists.An approach of comparative analysis is adopted in which many ethno-historical and scientific sources are presented for comparison. The work is not intended to be strictly academic because primary, secondary, and popular sources are used, but it is intended to be thorough, accessible, and incorporates many interesting human stories. Recent historical and archaeological information is provided to further assist substantiation or refutation of accounts of human cannibalism. This is where it is hoped that the work will differ from, and improve upon what has gone before . By virtue of the ethno-historical record, most information about cannibalism has come from the early modern and modern periods. The challenge has been to find a way of discussing a cultural practice that is odious to Western sensitivities, while paradoxically exerting a lurid attraction over the popular imagination.The work is founded upon scientific controversy over the actual existence or true extent of cannibalism among humans, which really began with publication of 'The Man-Eating Myth' by anthropologist William Arens in 1979. Over subsequent years archaeological discoveries have appeared to at least partly refute Arens' claims that stories of man-eating in the ethno-historical record are largely nonsense or fantasy.Debate on the subject among anthropologists has not ended, and incidents of cannibalism continue to occur in some of the world's most intractable trouble-spots. This work predominantly covers beliefs, mythologies, and reports of assumed or actual cannibalistic practices in ethnic groups world-wide. The approach used compares and contrasts evidence to assess the veracity of reports of cannibalism among human societies. Written and verbal ethno-historical accounts (with many quotations) are combined and compared with modern anthropological and archaeological data where these are available. Wherever possible primary sources have been used. The structure of the work is mainly geographical, but there are also sections covering cannibalism in prehistory, from which some of the best evidence has emerged. Sensationalism has been deliberately avoided and no judgements are cast upon peoples reported to be man-eaters. The work simply aims to determine, as far as possible, whether a particular group were cannibalistic, and if so, why.


A History of Cannibalism

A History of Cannibalism

Author: Nathan Constantine

Publisher: Arcturus Publishing

Published: 2006-06-26

Total Pages: 319

ISBN-13: 1848586132

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Desperation, duty and desire - the three primary motives for breaking what is the oldest taboo in the Western world, cannibalism. This book investigates all three and presents startling evidence that will challenge cultural and moral perceptions as never before. It explains how in some societies, 'duty' cannibalism has been integral to existence and viewed as both necessary and socially acceptable. If most people find such a concept difficult to comprehend, they might just be able to reserve judgement on those driven to eat companions out of sheer desperation in order to survive. But, by far the most disturbing of the three types is 'desire cannibalism', practiced by men such as Albert Fish and Ed Gein who ate human flesh simply because they wanted to. If the second type of cannibalism shows what we humans are capable of under extreme stress, this third gives a chilling insight into what some of us require for emotional and sexual gratification. A History of Cannibalism treats seriously, and with great erudition and understanding, a subject that causes many people to recoil in horror and disbelief. It examines the various - and sometime conflicting - motives, and assesses the background to many notorious cases. It offers no easy answers but a fascinating insight into the forces that lie deep within the human psyche.


Book Synopsis A History of Cannibalism by : Nathan Constantine

Download or read book A History of Cannibalism written by Nathan Constantine and published by Arcturus Publishing. This book was released on 2006-06-26 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Desperation, duty and desire - the three primary motives for breaking what is the oldest taboo in the Western world, cannibalism. This book investigates all three and presents startling evidence that will challenge cultural and moral perceptions as never before. It explains how in some societies, 'duty' cannibalism has been integral to existence and viewed as both necessary and socially acceptable. If most people find such a concept difficult to comprehend, they might just be able to reserve judgement on those driven to eat companions out of sheer desperation in order to survive. But, by far the most disturbing of the three types is 'desire cannibalism', practiced by men such as Albert Fish and Ed Gein who ate human flesh simply because they wanted to. If the second type of cannibalism shows what we humans are capable of under extreme stress, this third gives a chilling insight into what some of us require for emotional and sexual gratification. A History of Cannibalism treats seriously, and with great erudition and understanding, a subject that causes many people to recoil in horror and disbelief. It examines the various - and sometime conflicting - motives, and assesses the background to many notorious cases. It offers no easy answers but a fascinating insight into the forces that lie deep within the human psyche.