The Nuer:
A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People

E.E. Evans-Pritchard

Oxford University Press 1940
A book review by Danny Yee © 1992 https://dannyreviews.com/
The Nuer is one of the best known of all ethnographic studies, and the reason for this is clear: Evans-Pritchard gives a brilliant and insightful picture of an interesting and unusual people. The Nuer were a pastoral people living along the upper Nile, who had no laws or leaders and were strongly individualistic, with social order maintained by community values and a segmentary tribal and lineage system.

Most people are likely to encounter this in introductory anthropology courses, but I think everyone should read at least one ethnography, even if they never study anthropology: The Nuer wouldn't be a bad choice.

August 1992

External links:
- buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Related reviews:
- books about Africa + African history
- more ethnography
- books published by Oxford University Press
%T The Nuer
%S A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People
%A Evans-Pritchard, E.E.
%I Oxford University Press
%D 1940
%O paperback, b&w photos, index
%G ISBN 0195003225
%P xii,271pp