41 pages • 1 hour read
The Nuer: A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People
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Book Brief
320
Book • Nonfiction
Sudan • 1930s
1940
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Nuer by E.E. Evans-Pritchard provides an ethnographic study of the Nuer people of South Sudan, focusing on their political, kinship, and age-set systems and their ecological influences. The Nuer's society is centered around cattle husbandry, practices transhumance due to seasonal changes, and has a unique conceptualization of time and space defined by social events and distances. Certain editions contain sensitive visual content.
Informative
Contemplative
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
1,074 ratings
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Review Roundup
E.E. Evans-Pritchard's The Nuer is lauded for its detailed ethnographic account of the Nuer people, offering profound insights into their social structure, kinship, and political organization. However, some critiques point to the author’s occasionally paternalistic tone and limited scope in addressing Nuer women's perspectives. Overall, it is a seminal, though imperfect, work in anthropology.
Who Should Read The Nuer?
Readers who appreciate deep ethnographic studies and anthropological insights will enjoy The Nuer by E.E. Evans-Pritchard. Fans of Clifford Geertz's The Interpretation of Cultures and Bronisław Malinowski's Argonauts of the Western Pacific will find this work engaging for its detailed exploration of Nuer society and cultural norms.
1,074 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Nhial
Nhial
A young Nuer man who assists Evans-Pritchard by facilitating his integration within Nuer society and aiding in language acquisition and cultural understanding.
Leopard-Skin Chief
Leopard-Skin Chief
An office in Nuer society filled by a respected elder who acts as a mediator in disputes without holding political power, fostering social cohesion.
Prophet
Prophet
A revered position in Nuer society believed to be occupied by individuals possessed by sky-spirits, holding ceremonial and emerging judicial influence.
320
Book • Nonfiction
Sudan • 1930s
1940
Adult
18+ years
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