I'm probably misremembering this, but that description of wealth being how much you give reminds me of the description of the native cultures here in the PNW at the time of European contact (probably not coincidence?) as described in the book The Good Rain by Timothy Egan (a book I need to get back to)
I want to read that! Did you enjoy it so far? The amazing book "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde also goes into a lot of specifics about the potlatch tradition in which excessive gift-giving was a form of wealth. My recollection is that in some instances the rules became elaborate--a kind of endless one-up-manship--although I'm sure that's not always the case. What I loved about Le Guin's description, which I am certain is inspired by indigenous traditions, is that it's less ceremonial and more everyday. It made me think about philanthropy and how that is so elaborate and performative, whereas just giving things often, readily, easily feels different.
I had the book out of the library a few years ago and didn't have time to finish it before it was due - but I did enjoy the parts I read and really would like to finish it one of these days. I haven't read The Gift but I'm putting it on my list. On a tangent, I'm reading (listening to) The Entrantress of Florence and was thinking earlier today (as I often do) about how books and history are typically so European and Asian focused (that book being both) but there's relatively so little set hundreds of years ago in the Americas or Africa and because of that we miss out on a bunch of cultural perspectives that are different than our own.
That's fascinating and feels so true!! It makes me wonder about Central and South American writers who may have ventured into that kind of storytelling! Now I'll keep my eyes open.
I'm probably misremembering this, but that description of wealth being how much you give reminds me of the description of the native cultures here in the PNW at the time of European contact (probably not coincidence?) as described in the book The Good Rain by Timothy Egan (a book I need to get back to)
I want to read that! Did you enjoy it so far? The amazing book "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde also goes into a lot of specifics about the potlatch tradition in which excessive gift-giving was a form of wealth. My recollection is that in some instances the rules became elaborate--a kind of endless one-up-manship--although I'm sure that's not always the case. What I loved about Le Guin's description, which I am certain is inspired by indigenous traditions, is that it's less ceremonial and more everyday. It made me think about philanthropy and how that is so elaborate and performative, whereas just giving things often, readily, easily feels different.
I had the book out of the library a few years ago and didn't have time to finish it before it was due - but I did enjoy the parts I read and really would like to finish it one of these days. I haven't read The Gift but I'm putting it on my list. On a tangent, I'm reading (listening to) The Entrantress of Florence and was thinking earlier today (as I often do) about how books and history are typically so European and Asian focused (that book being both) but there's relatively so little set hundreds of years ago in the Americas or Africa and because of that we miss out on a bunch of cultural perspectives that are different than our own.
That's fascinating and feels so true!! It makes me wonder about Central and South American writers who may have ventured into that kind of storytelling! Now I'll keep my eyes open.