Books by Raymond Firth

?Professor Firth's treatment of basic anthropological phenomena is largely concerned with social relations as they grow out of economic activities, art, religion, and moral standards. Undoubtedly this book will prove useful in advanced courses on anthropological theory.?-American Journal of Sociology

Based on a wide range of field studies, Sir Raymond Firth discusses the geographical and historical factors that determine the development of racial groups; The book provides a framework for understanding all human societies and interpreting the changes that take place within them.

Provides an account by a social anthropologist of a Polynesian ritual cycle. This single-volume includes a theoretical introduction, and supplies postscripts to some of the chapters comparing the performances of 1928-29 with those witnessed by Professor Firth on his second visit to Tikopia in 1952.

In this volume Professor Firth has brought together and commented upon a number of his papers on anthropological subjects published over the last thirty years.

As a general background, the first two chapters of the book discuss characteristics of Malay rural society, especially in the coastal area, in Kelantan; the main features of Malay marine fishing; and the particular situation of the fisheries in Kelantan and Trengganu. The body of the book then deals with what is in effect an historical case study in economic anthropology, a community of peasant fishermen analyzed in detail. Finally, Professor Firth gives an account on a comparative basis of recent developments in the same community, to bring out some of the underlying social and economic forces that have been at work during the past generation.

"Primitive Polynesian Economy is one of the first serious attempts to apply the concepts of modern economic theory to the institutions of a primitive community, studied by anthropological field methods. In the small Polynesian island of Tikopia, Raymond Firth was able in the course of a year to observe and analyze in remarkable detail the economic transactions of the thirteen hundred inhabitants of a primitive peasant economy of agriculturalists and fishermen. For the second edition, he has written a new chapter discussing the changes that have taken place since the book was first published.

This work, first published in 1936, is an excellent example of fieldwork analysis of a primitive society; a complete account of the working of a primitive kinship system; and an exhaustive and sophisticated study of Polynesian social institutions.

Re-visiting Tikopia a decade after his first visit, Raymond Firth here examines what impact the forces of modernization had on Tikopia society with regard to economics, law, politics and social affairs.

A classic of British anthropology, first published in 1939, "Primitive Polynesian Economy" covers, among other topics: problems of primitive economics; food and population in Tikopia; knowledge, technique and economic lore; the labour situation; and principles of distribution and payment.

Drawing on a wide range of illustrations, including Firth's own experiences in New Zealand, Malaya and the Solomon Islands, the concept of social organization is discussed with special reference to the role of individual choice and decision in social affairs and the nature of social change.

The social, economic and political impact of the decline of the old colonial powers in Africa, India and the Middle East are still areas of vast research and debate. Much of the key issues concerning this area are discussed in this book.

Treats religion as a human art, capable of great intellectual and artistic achievements.