{"id":14808,"date":"2021-05-10T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/berghahnbooks.com\/blog\/?p=14808"},"modified":"2025-04-08T10:44:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T10:44:03","slug":"marcel-mauss-a-gift-to-the-social-sciences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.berghahnbooks.com\/blog\/marcel-mauss-a-gift-to-the-social-sciences","title":{"rendered":"Marcel Mauss, a gift to the social sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Marcel Mauss<\/strong> (May 10, 1872\u2014Feb. 10, 1950), celebrated author of The Gift<\/em> and nephew of \u00c9mile Durkheim, was a French sociologist and anthropologist whose contributions include a highly original comparative study of the relation between forms of exchange and social structure. His views on the theory and method of ethnology are thought to have influenced many eminent social scientists.<\/h4>\n

In the spirit of his birthday, we are delighted to present volumes from the\u00a0Publications of the Durkheim Press<\/a>\u00a0series, with special attention to\u00a0The Nature of Sociology<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Techniques, Technology, and Civilization<\/a>. Recently released in paperback, these volumes offer students an ideal introduction to Mauss’s writings and theories.<\/h4>\n

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\"\"Available in paperback<\/strong><\/em>
THE NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY<\/a>
Marcel Mauss
Translated by William Jeffrey
Introduction by Mike Gane<\/p>\n

Having taken over the leadership of the French school of sociology after the death of his uncle, \u00c9mile Durkheim, in 1917, Mauss, celebrated author of The Gift, re-launched the flagship journal, the Ann\u00e9e sociologique. Here are two of Mauss’s most significant statements on the social sciences. The first, written with Fauconnet, outlines the methodological orientations of the school. The second examines the internal organization of sociology as a division of intellectual labor. The essays are of interest to anthropologists as well as sociologists for Mauss, like Durkheim, did not distinguish in detail the two disciplines.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/a>
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\"\"Available in paperback
<\/i><\/b>TECHNIQUES, TECHNOLOGY AND CIVILIZATION<\/a>
Marcel Mauss
Edited and with an Introduction by Nathan Schlanger
Published in Association with the Durkheim Press<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems that Mauss\u2019s fame has grown in inverse proportion to knowledge of his actual writings. It should therefore be a matter of celebration that his occasional writings on techniques and technology have been published in English\u2026when we look more closely at what Mauss did and did not do, his iconic status may be somewhat tarnished. But his general example still has the power to inspire, and maybe that is what counts.\u201d<\/em> \u00b7 JRAI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

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\"\"THE MANUAL OF ETHNOGRAPHY<\/a>
Marcel Mauss
Translated by Dominique Lussier
Edited and Introduced by N. J. Allen
Published in Association with Durkheim Press<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the wake of considerable recent biographical attention to Marcel Mauss in English-language publications, it is fitting that works by him still available only in French appear in translation. The Manual of Ethnography has been expertly translated by Dominique Lussier, and appropriately edited and introduced by N. J. Allen. This historically important document, \u2026 reflects the youthful moment of modern anthropology when the questions and subjects of this discipline came to depend on rigorous collection of material from field research\u2026 an important historical document in the context of Mauss’s teaching of anthropology and in the originary hopes for ethnography. Highly recommended.\u201d<\/em> \u00b7 George Marcus in Choice
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\"\"ON PRAYER<\/a>
Text and Commentary
Marcel Mauss
Edited and with an introduction by W. S. F. Pickering
Published in Association with Durkheim Press<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis study should have been his doctoral dissertation that he never finished\u2026Its English version clearly shows that we are dealing with an important text on a topic that is curiously little explored by anthropologists.\u201d<\/em> \u00b7 Revue philosophique<\/strong><\/p>\n

“There is much of interest in this well-presented volume. Mauss\u2019s careful discussion of differences among types of oral rites \u2013 incantations, spells, invocations \u2013 remains instructive.”<\/em> \u00b7 Social Anthropology<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Of related interest:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"MARCEL MAUSS<\/a>
A Centenary Tribute
Edited by Wendy James and N. J. Allen<\/p>\n

“Each of the essays in this volume deals with various facets of his work, and all of them should be read.”<\/em> \u00b7 American Anthropologist<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis book offers a unique insight into the influence of one of the discipline\u2019s most important theorists. James and Allen are thoughtful editors … their respect produces the best form of criticism in fourteen essays by British, and other European, anthropologists … This is intriguing and stimulating reading … Mauss\u2019s work receives careful attention in this book which is helpful, incisive, and broadly significant to anthropology.\u201d<\/em> \u00b7 JRAI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Berghahn Journals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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DURKHEIMIAN STUDIES<\/a> \u00c9tudes Durkheimiennes<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Berghahn Journals is offering free access <\/strong>to select articles from Durkheimian Studies until May 17, 2021. Browse the articles here.<\/a>
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For updates on our Sociology<\/a> list as well as all other developments from Berghahn, sign up for customized e-Newsletters<\/a>, become a Facebook fan<\/a>, follow us on Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>, and listen to our podcast, Salon B<\/em>, on Spotify<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned for the release of our new Salon B episode, \u201cLabor,\u201d coming later this month!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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