The Gift
The Gift
Lewis Hyde
Stewart Brand
Stewart Brand recommended this book on his "Selected Books for the Manual for Civilization" blog post.
Seth Godin
Every once in a while I feel a little bit burnt out and I’ll open up any section of [this book], and it will stick with me. - Seth Godin
+
2
All books

The Gift

The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property

Lewis Hyde
By
Lewis Hyde
3.9
462
ratings on Goodreads

In the heart of Lewis Hyde's seminal work, "The Gift," lies a profound exploration of the intricate relationship between creativity and the economy of gifts, as opposed to the market's commodification of art. Hyde masterfully weaves together anthropology, literature, economics, and personal insights to argue that the true essence of artistic creation is akin to a gift rather than a commodity. Through a series of compelling narratives and historical examples, he illustrates how art thrives in a culture of generosity and is diminished when treated purely as an object of financial gain. This book is an eloquent defense of the artist's role in society, challenging the reader to reconsider the value and impact of creativity in a world dominated by material wealth. "The Gift" is not merely a critique but a beacon for artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers who find themselves at odds with the commodification of their passions. Hyde's eloquent discourse serves as a reminder of the transformative power of art and its fundamental importance to the human spirit. His work is a call to arms for the preservation of creativity's sacred nature, offering both inspiration and practical wisdom for navigating the tension between art's inherent gift economy and the market forces that seek to enclose it. In its pages, readers will find not just a book, but a lifeline, a source of hope and understanding that reaffirms the value of their contributions to the world.

Read more
Released
1979
1 Jan
Length
352
Pages

2

recommendations

recommendation

Every once in a while I feel a little bit burnt out and I’ll open up any section of [this book], and it will stick with me. - Seth Godin
Stewart Brand recommended this book on his "Selected Books for the Manual for Civilization" blog post.
Most artists are brought to their vocation when their own nascent gifts are awakened by the work of a master. That is to say, most artists are converted to art by art itself. Finding one's voice isn't just an emptying and purifying oneself of the words of others but an adopting and embracing of filiations, communities, and discourses. Inspiration could be called inhaling the memory of an act never experienced. Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void but out of chaos. Any artist knows these truths, no matter how deeply he or she submerges that knowing.
— Lewis Hyde, The Gift

Similar recommendations

View all
Sapiens
Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari
32
people
person
Thinking, Fast and Slow
19
people
person
How to Change Your Mind
15
people
person
The Better Angels of Our Nature
13
people
person
Endurance
Endurance
Alfred Lansing
12
people
person
The Art Of War
12
people
person
Outliers
Outliers
Malcolm Gladwell
11
people
person
Bird by Bird
Bird by Bird
Anne Lamott
10
people
person
Finite and Infinite Games
10
people
person
Between the World and Me
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
10
people
person

This site is part of Amazon’s Associates Program. Purchasing books recommended by successful individuals through my links earns us a small commission, helping keep the site running, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!