The History of Human Marriage

audiobook

The History of Human Marriage

by Edward Westermarck

EN·~21 hours

Chapters

Description

A sweeping exploration of how human societies have paired up, this work delves into the origins and evolution of marriage across cultures. Drawing on a wealth of ethnographic data, the author examines everything from the rituals of remote tribal groups to the customs of modern cities, revealing surprising patterns and underlying motives that shape marital bonds.

What sets the study apart is its willingness to question the conclusions of well‑known thinkers such as Darwin and Spencer. By proposing fresh explanations for phenomena like the universal aversion to close‑kin unions and the role of sexual selection, the author invites readers to reconsider long‑held assumptions. The prose is clear and engaging, making complex anthropological arguments accessible without sacrificing scholarly depth. Listeners will come away with a richer appreciation of the social forces that have guided human partnership for millennia.

Details

Full title

The History of Human Marriage Third Edition

Language

en

Duration

~21 hours (1226K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2019-04-28

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Edward Westermarck

Edward Westermarck

1862–1939

A pioneering Finnish thinker, he helped shape modern ideas about marriage, morality, and social life. His work connected philosophy, sociology, and anthropology in ways that still feel strikingly modern.

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