Argonauts of the Western Pacific

The "Argonauts of the Western Pacific" is a book by anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski, published in 1922, that explores the complex sea-based culture of the Trobriand Islanders near Papua New Guinea. It details their social structures, economic systems, and especially their unique fishing and trading practices involving a shell-carrying octopus-like mollusk called the argonaut. Malinowski's work is significant for its ethnographic insights, emphasizing the importance of understanding people's daily lives and cultural practices through immersive fieldwork. Overall, the book is a foundational study in anthropology, illustrating the intricacies of small-scale societies.