Blood Rites

In Blood Rites, a newly reissued paperback, author Barbara Ehrenreich explores the complex motivations behind humanity’s attraction to war, challenging the notion of a primal “killer instinct.” She traces the origins of violence from ancient human sacrifices to the devastating wars of the twentieth century, revealing that these impulses may stem from ritualistic reenactments of early humans’ terrifying encounters with predators. This insightful and original work invites readers to rethink the deep-seated connections between violence and cultural rites throughout history.