Download Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy Audiobook

" I heard Bill Moyers talking with Barbara Ehrenreich on his weekly podcast. She is a journalist who writes in a conversational style and never pretends to be an ultra-expert. In this book she discusses collective joy - using words like ecstasy and carnival throughout history. Uses it to get into really interesting discussion about European imperialism and its interpretation of "primitive" celebrations, class issues with collective celebration, the difference between the ecstacy of Nazi propaganda events and other large gatherings, and the current ecstasy found at rock concerts and sporting events. AShe uses references to support all of her points, and freely offers up when she is not able to scientifically support her ideas but feels that they are right. It is a nice style to read, not overbearing, but well thought out and entertaining. "

" As usual, I wish there were half-stars because I would give this one 3.5 stars. It was interesting! "

" One of my favorite books, from one of my favorite authors. Social history of how and why we love to celebrate together. "

" I've only read part of this book, but it's an interesting subject and Ehrenreich's style was quite clear. At times though it does seem a bit dry and academic, considering it's about one of our most ecstatic shared pleasures. "

" I found this cultural history of celebrations and the repression of public celebrations very interesting. In a previous class in Mexican history I studied a book called Propriety and Permissiveness in Bourbon Mexico, that centered on these kind of issues in Mexican history. Barbara Ehrenreich's book puts this story into a longer term international context from ancient cultures to the current sports as spectacle craze. "

" Barbara Ehrenreich is awesome. The topic of this book is cool enough, then she somehow manages to offer unique ways of looking at military history, depression, Nazis, all kinds of things. Recommended for anyone who is interested in fun, or its many opposites. "

" Has parts that are very strong, expansive "

" I love Barbara Ehrenreich, but was slightly bored by what I consider an amazing topic, loving festivals, street actions and public gatherings of all types. It is an interesting history, but maybe not tightly enough written (or maybe it's just not my time for reading the book...) "

" Very interesting - changed the way I think about celebration - not as futile, but as something that binds us and contributes to our existence in a way money cannot. "

" at first I thought she was being hard on Christian church history, then she kept going til the end with insight "

" this is a book that articulated every unspoken and nebulous uncertainty I held about modern western society - "

" This is fascinating! Both from the ciclovia history perspective, and from the angle of folk dancing (such as contra and Morris dancing), this gives an entirely new angle to how our society has embraced and discarded traditions of communal festivities and dancing in the streets over the centuries. "

" very cool book about human history "

" a great historical perspective on the history of ecstatic ritual. Very interesting how power dynamics play into something like dance... "

" Seemed like it would be really interesting but just didn't keep my attention the whole time. "

" The first few chapters were pretty interesting. Definitely want to have a Dionysus party. Definitely. "

" This was so bad--her scolarship was uneven, because she did not stick to her original premise, her research was incomplete, and the writing was amateurish. "

" As a dancer and a writer about women and dance, this book was a wonderful discovery for me. Its subtitle 'A History of Collective Joy' says it all. It looks at communal celebration through bodily expression down the ages and is absolutely riveting. "

" I'm delighted to finally read a book that describes dancing and social exuberance in a positive light! While this book is not perfect (in its research, in its coverage and perception of non-western dance forms), it's the first and only of its kind. "

" Because of this book, I will be less judgmental about hippie antics like drum circles. That, and I will go to more rock shows.

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" This was less about collective joy than the repression of collective joy, and heavily focused on the Christian tradition, although not exclusively so. An interesting book, and a good resource for a writing wanting to get ideas for a repressive government. "

" One of my favorite books, from one of my favorite authors. Social history of how and why we love to celebrate together. "

" I love Barbara Ehrenreich, but was slightly bored by what I consider an amazing topic, loving festivals, street actions and public gatherings of all types. It is an interesting history, but maybe not tightly enough written (or maybe it's just not my time for reading the book...) "

" I gave up. really liked earlier books on american culture and politics- this one a little more academic and dry...would try again, because she's smart and "collective joy" seems like a great concept. "

" Barbara Ehrenreich is awesome. The topic of this book is cool enough, then she somehow manages to offer unique ways of looking at military history, depression, Nazis, all kinds of things. Recommended for anyone who is interested in fun, or its many opposites. "

" Very interesting - changed the way I think about celebration - not as futile, but as something that binds us and contributes to our existence in a way money cannot. "

" As usual, I wish there were half-stars because I would give this one 3.5 stars. It was interesting! "

" I'm delighted to finally read a book that describes dancing and social exuberance in a positive light! While this book is not perfect (in its research, in its coverage and perception of non-western dance forms), it's the first and only of its kind. "

" at first I thought she was being hard on Christian church history, then she kept going til the end with insight "

" this is a book that articulated every unspoken and nebulous uncertainty I held about modern western society - "