Polygamy

A Very Short Introduction

De: Sarah M.S. Pearsall

Narrado por: Holly Adams

Marriage has not always meant just one man and one woman. For much of human history, the most common alternative was polygamy: marriage involving more than one spouse. However, polygamy has come to symbolize a problematic, even "barbaric", form of marriage that is often labeled as "backwards", embodying the oppression of women by men.

In Polygamy: A Very Short Introduction, Sarah M.S. Pearsall explores what plural marriages reveal about the inner workings of marriage and describes the controversies surrounding it. The book emphasizes the diversity of historical polygamist societies, from the Shi'ite Muslims and Wendat men who practiced short-term marriages to the Mixteca, Maori, Inca, Algonquin, and Marta indigenous people of North America and the Pacific Islands. Pearsall also explains the divides within Christianity that led to Joseph Smith's establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism).

Polygamy: A Very Short Introduction looks at how polygamous domestic and sexual relationships have influenced larger dynamics of power, gender, rank, race, and religion in societies all over the world, while also attempting to untangle the paradox of female constraint and liberty for women who advocated for polygamy, arguing that plural marriage offered security and stability rather than restraint for women.

©2021 Oxford University Press (P)2022 Tantor

a historical context

this book very much takes a historical view of poligami and shortly touches on polyamorie. a canded short recounting of colonial operation, counter colonialism in positive and negative sens and the raped change in non monogamy.

it was helpfull to me. I always did wonder why Christianity was against poligami and now I have some sort of awareness.

Great. Informative, balanced and enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this literary effort from Ms. Sarah M.S. Pearsall, and indeed, hope I could possibly interview her one day about this very topic. I will likely read more over her writing on polygamy, and this book does a great job of explaining the pros and cons of polygamy for both men and women, and how it is often misportrayed in the media in both the West and the East.

Perfect perfect perfect

An incredible work full of historical examples written in such a way that makes you really get what was/is going on in the realm of matrimonial practices of different cultures and the “evolution” of it’s institutions by shedding light on the repeating patterns re-emerge thou out the ages.
Sarah the historian is a rock star and the low key humour made this audiobook an unforgettable entertaining experience along with its enlightening purpose.
Thank you so much for being you, doing all this colossal life long research and sharing the concentrated “sauce” packaged as short as a paper - very much appreciated, you’re a gem!!
Wishing you great fortune and lots of high quality moments filled with love, laughter and meaningful adventures! 🎆

The narrator lady has done a 10/10 job and the voice was so pleasant to listen + the cover art, in my opinion, is also perfect!
No exaggeration, but this audiobook is superb. If you’re looking to understand more about polygamy - this one is the right choice.