Tristes Tropiques
Tristes Tropiques
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1955
Book Brief
432
Book • Nonfiction
Brazil • 1930s
1955
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Tristes Tropiques by Claude Lévi-Strauss is a 1955 memoir that recounts his travels and research in Brazil, India, and the Caribbean in the early 1900s. It spans nine parts, covering his journey to anthropology, reflections on city designs, vivid descriptions of various cultures, detailed studies of Brazilian tribes, and a concluding philosophical reflection featuring the unfinished play "The Apotheosis of Augustus." The book contains descriptions of extreme poverty and its societal impacts.
Contemplative
Informative
Melancholic
Mysterious
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
3,871 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
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Review Roundup
Tristes Tropiques by Claude Lévi-Strauss blends anthropology, autobiography, and philosophy, offering rich insights into diverse cultures. Reviewers praise its evocative prose and intellectual depth, though some find its structure disjointed and dense. Overall, it's celebrated for its profound reflections on human societies despite occasional inaccessibility.
Who Should Read Tristes Tropiques?
A reader who enjoys Tristes Tropiques by Claude Lévi-Strauss is likely fascinated by anthropology, travel, and philosophical reflections on culture. They would appreciate insights akin to Bruce Chatwin's In Patagonia or Edward Said's Orientalism, blending rigorous scholarship with engaging narrative.
3,871 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
432
Book • Nonfiction
Brazil • 1930s
1955
Adult
18+ years
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