In Search Of The Primitive

Anthropology is a kind of debate between human possibilities—a dialectical movement between the anthropologist as a modern man and the primitive peoples he studies. In Search of the Primitive is a tough-minded book containing chapters ranging from encounters in the field to essays on the nature of law, schizophrenia and civilization, and the evolution of the work of Claude Lévi-Strauss. Above all it is reflective and self-critical, critical of the discipline of anthropology and of the civilization that produced that discipline. Diamond views the anthropologist who refuses to become a searching critic of his own civilizations as not merely irresponsible, but a tool of Western civilization. He rejects the associations which have been made in the ideology of our civilization, consciously or unconsciously, between Western dominance and progress, imperialism and evolution, evolution and progress.

Anthropology is a kind of debate between human possibilities—a dialectical movement between the anthropologist as a modern man and the primitive peoples he studies. In Search of the Primitive is a tough-minded book containing chapters ranging from encounters in the field to essays on the nature of law, schizophrenia and civilization, and the evolution of the work of Claude Lévi-Strauss. Above all it is reflective and self-critical, critical of the discipline of anthropology and of the civilization that produced that discipline. Diamond views the anthropologist who refuses to become a searching critic of his own civilizations as not merely irresponsible, but a tool of Western civilization. He rejects the associations which have been made in the ideology of our civilization, consciously or unconsciously, between Western dominance and progress, imperialism and evolution, evolution and progress.

Minimalism, savagery, the raw and the cooked, the primal and the pre-verbal, Elvis’s hips, The Rite of Spring . . . Earth Dances is an original investigation of how music and primitivism intersect – a dazzling journey through music and culture. With alternating chapters of criticism and interviews, including with Liza Lim and Brian Eno, composer and broadcaster Andrew Ford explores the relationship between primal forms of music and the most refined examples of the art – between passion and control. He looks at the voice, the drum, the drone and the dance, at ‘music that is in touch with something fundamental in our existence, music that seeks and rediscovers the earthy side of our nature, the primitive, the “simple, rude or rough”, and in doing so restores and resets our humanity’. ‘The perfect, knowledgeable, enthusiastic friend . . . I couldn’t put it down!’ —David Robertson ‘Much has been made of the search for the lost chord. But chords are sophisticated structures. Earth Dances documents Andrew Ford’s intrepid quest for the lost thud, and the lost scream . . . Music can’t survive without primitivism. It is the bushfire clearing overgrown and cluttered musical landscapes, paring them to essentials. This results in fresh structures, materials and practices that lead us to the place we belong.’ —Brian Ritchie, Violent Femmes, MONA FOMA ‘Earth Dances is a vivid and rarely less than astute history of the debt modern music simultaneously owes to the inheritances of tradition, and the texture of dissonance.’ —Kill Your Darlings ‘Filled with insightful musical analysis made accessible for a general audience.’ —Sydney Morning Herald

A Wall Street Journal Business Book Bestseller "Primitive provides a path forward to unleash your inner entrepreneur."―Barbara Corcoran, Shark Tank Most people are disengaged with their work and feel uninspired, underappreciated and underpaid. The situation could hardly be clearer: in the wake of a catastrophic global health crisis and amid societal upheaval and economic uncertainty, we can longer afford to play by the conventional rulebook to get ahead in our professional lives. What’s the secret to this kind of success in today’s world? Ironically, it’s honoring our ancient instincts and intuition. It’s about sensing danger and pouncing on opportunity -- as our ancestors did tens of thousands of years ago, or in the manner of playful kids full of curiosity and can-do spirit. Primitive is very different from the familiar, cookie-cutter business book. Marco Greenberg, a close advisor to visionary founders of tech unicorns and the heads of some of the nation’s largest organizations, demonstrates how a range of successful people--those he calls "primitives"--ignore what they "should" do and instead tap a primal drive to power ahead. The good news is that anyone looking to inspire others has a way to apply the primitive mindset, from new college grads to mid-career professionals, from HR directors to CEOs. The key is to go ROAMING ™: be Relentless in pursuing our biggest goals; have the courage to reject group-think and be Oppositional; choose an Agnostic approach rather than overly specialize; adopt a Messianic spirit, so your work becomes not just a job but a true calling; embrace the advantages of being Insecure rather than feign bravado; reap the benefits of sometimes acting a little Nuts; and finally, to realize that being Gallant in following one's passions delivers the ultimate rewards. Primitive captures the keys to breakout success and professional satisfaction.