Read by Stephen Bowlby

A modern classic cherished by many of the greatest artists of our time, The Gift is a brilliant, life-changing defense of the value of creative labor. Drawing on examples from folklore and literature, history and tribal customs, economics and modern copyright law, Lewis Hyde demonstrates how our society-governed by the marketplace-is poorly equipped to determine the worth of artists' work. He shows us that another way is possible: the alternative economy of the gift, which allows creations and ideas to circulate freely, rather than hoarding them as commodities. Illuminating and transformative, The Gift is a triumph of originality and insight-an essential audiobook for anyone who has ever given or received a work of art. "A classic…If you want to write, paint, sing, compose, act, or make films, read The Gift." "No one who is invested in any kind of art can read The Gift and remain unchanged."

Mode of access: World Wide Web