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  • Dancing in the Streets

  • A History of Collective Joy
  • By: Barbara Ehrenreich
  • Narrated by: Pam Ward
  • Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (39 ratings)
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Dancing in the Streets

By: Barbara Ehrenreich
Narrated by: Pam Ward
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Summary

From best-selling social commentator and cultural historian Barbara Ehrenreich comes this fascinating exploration of one of humanity's oldest traditions: the celebration of communal joy, historically expressed in ecstatic revels of feasting, costuming, and dancing.

Ehrenreich uncovers the origins of communal celebration in human biology and culture, showing that such mass festivities have been indigenous to the West since the ancient Greeks. Though suppressed by elites who fear the undermining of social hierarchies, outbreaks of group revelry still persist, Ehrenreich shows, pointing to the 1960s rock-and-roll rebellion and the more recent "carnivalization" of sports.

Original, exhilarating, and deeply optimistic, Dancing in the Streets shows that we are innately social beings, impelled to share our joy and thereby envision a peaceable future.

©2006 Barbara Ehrenreich (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"A serious look at communal celebrations, well documented and presented with assurance and flair." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Ehrenreich writes with grace and clarity in a fascinating, wide-ranging, and generous account." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Dancing in the Streets

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting sections but…

…some curious omissions. There was nothing about dance culture (soul, disco, rave etc) and some of the historical sections were definitely laboured. There are some fascinating sections and this is worth a listen but I feel it could and should have been better

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting study of group ecstatic experiences

I found this very interesting, but a little dry. Thought provoking connections and parallels between Dyonysis and rock stars, saturnalia and sports, but ultimately didn’t make me want to go out and dance in the street.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating!

Really interesting, well researched, beautifully stated message about the importance of ecstatic dance throughout history and the loss we have experienced due to it's repression and decline.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

A rare gem that somehow got into the free catalogue. I am a student of Anthropology and I wish I had found this years ago. It isn't overly academic and the narration is great. Highly recommended for everyone who wants to learn more about our society and how we as the humankind have always needed dancing and festivities in our lives

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