The Gift – Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies is the anthropological classic on economy, society and sociology by the french sociologist Marcel Mauss. The book investigates the gift as predecessor for modern societies economies by comparing habits from a range of traditional societies all over the world. Marcel Mauss describes how the people of Polynesia used gifts as a donation of authority and circulation of wealth and tributes. He compares the habits between eskimo tribes from North-East Siberia and West Alaska shows how gifts are the foundation for everything from marriage, war and peace and even religion in the form of sacrifices to the Gods. Marcel Mauss concludes: “In any society it is in the nature of the gift in the end to being its own reward.”
From the book:
“I have never found a man so generous and hospitable that he would not receive a present, nor one so liberal with his money that he would dislike a reward if he could get one. Friends should rejoice each others’ hearts with gifts of weapons and raiment, that is clear from one’s own experience. That friendship lasts longest—if there is a chance of its being a success—in which friends both give and receive gifts. A man ought to be a friend to his friend and repay gift with gift. People should meet smiles with smiles and lies with treachery.”
The Amateur Tramp – A Walk of Ten Thousand Miles Around Australia. Thousands of people have climbed the highest peaks of the Himalayas. Hundreds have visited all nations on UN’s list and 12 made it all the way to the moon. But this guy..!
In 1921, Aidan de Brune packed his backpack and walked around the entire continent of Australia by the coastline. We are (almost) sure he is the only person who ever did that. Even more impressive, he did it all alone and without assistance.
The amazing adventure was documented by himself along the way as he wrote articles about it for the Australian newspaper Daily Mail along the route.
The route around Australia
The walk took about two and a half year, and the accomplishment made Aidan de Brune famous. This book about the walk is written by Colin Choat, who kindly allowed us to post the book here.
“One little pickle of a fellow, with bright black eyes, who had quite overcome his terror, amused himself by creeping up behind the others, and frightening them by shouting in their ear, “ Nui pakeha, nui pakeha” (the big white man, the big white man is coming!) — meaning me; at which they would burst into tears, and run like rabbits from the supposed cannibal—your humble servant.”
Wonderland of the Antipodes and other sketches of Travel in the North Island of New Zealand by J. Ernest Tinne was published in 1873. He was astonished by the beauty of the island and during many trips by foot, canoe and horseback he visited the North Island many times. The descriptions are personal and it is clear that Ernest respected the natives and was very interested in geology, anthropology, botanics and the Maori way of life.
Download the free PDF e-book here (160 pages/8 MB):
Best Railway Stories edited by L. T. C. Rolt. Heres a goodie for adventurous boys and girls at all ages. Dramatic stories from the heydays of railroads. This fascinating collection of stories captures its essence superbly and is as colourful, as lively, and as varied as the railways themselves. Death, mystery and disaster rise through the steam of the stories by – to name a handful – Dickens, Conan Doyle, Freeman Wills Croft and Robert Aickman and comedy, politics and fanaticism rattle through those by ‘Q’, Raymond Williams and Doug Welch.
L. T. C. Rolt- and there is no one better qualified to do so-has put together an anthology to keep the traveller awake from Euston to Inverness, or a man from his own pillow far into the night.
Download Best Railway Stories here (10,2 MB/254 pages):
Free Public Domain PDF e-books about adventurers, explorers, sailors and mountaineers from all over the world – and exciting novels of adventure. Be inspired and learn how the world was discovered.
