Rating: 
Summary: Classic work but not great work
Review: A classic, Frazer's "Golden Bough" has been read by a few generations of scholars. However, Frazer's almost mythology standing as one of the first mythologists in Ancient History has led to an over-evaluation of some of his work, in my opinion. Written in ramble manner only confuses the reader and weakens Frazer's arguements so that one may find it difficult to argue with specific passages. By the end, it seems that Frazer has gotten lost in his "search for Ur" and forgotten that his assumptions are meaningless until proven by text, records, and logic.
Rating: 
Summary: Great detail. Overall premise seems dated
Review: A root text in cultural anthropology, but dated and clearly a case of 'armchair anthropology'. Nonetheless Frazier has archived zillions of myths from cultures around the world and there are great stories and rich material for any creative venture. The overall premise is forced, though it influenced many others and started a new discipline.
Rating: 
Summary: An Indispensable resource
Review: Although it is trendy to slam The Golden Bough for its author's assumptions, nothing can take away the magnitude of the scholarship or the impact of the text. It was the first time any work of religious anthropology had made any sort of cultural impact, and its signifigance to artists of the Jazz Age and later decades is tantamount. Picasso's work is filled with images from The Golden Bough, and all of Hemingway's obsession with bulls and bullfights is explained by reading Frazer. The work itself is an exhaustive reference for thousands of relgious ceremonies around the world, and their interrelated symbolism and meaning. Flying directly in the face of the historical philosophies of parallel, isolated cultural development in vogue in the 19th century, the book shows that human spiritual belief orbits around the same ideas, needs and urges across the planet and through the ages. The symbolism of worship in Iron Age Norway is the same as Middle Ages Mirconesia, with all the interconnectedness this implies. It is very easy to work around the author's 19th century cultural assumptions and glean the information. Reading The Golden Bough, along with Joseph Campbell, will give a very good baseline for any historical religious study. Frazer's work also dovetails beautifully with Jung's study of archetypal symbols. The combination of the two wil go a long way towards sorting out the symbolism in any 20th Century literature.
Rating:
Summary: Aren't There Six Stars?
Review: As can be seen from the title above, I did like The Golden Bough. I think that it is one of the greatest works in universal literature in the broadest sense, comparable with Tucidides's History, Maquiavelo's The Prince or Newton's Principia Mathematica. It shows the process by which mankind constructed its magical beliefs, and some of the religious and mythological ones, by an irrefutable and logical array of laws, using a truly scientific approach instead of relying on void rhetoric like many of the modern studies. And still it is not too difficult to read; only the examples are a little tedious to pass through, but they are a scientific imperative. Moreover, Frazer is not just the greatest historian of religions, but a very competent prose writer, and sometimes a philosopher: he explains his inductions with fine skill, and will surprise the reader with a couple of beautiful descriptions, and some deeply incisive considerations about society and human nature.
I am aware that this work has unfortunately come under some criticism recently, but I am certain that time will restore this work in its due place. It is very easy to discard any work with a few merely rhetorical comments, but not surprisingly it is impossible to dismantle only one of Frazer's reasonings. And leaving aside political correctness, of course there is social and philosophical evolution, the former is what we demand from the politicians and call "progress". This does not of course give reason to any racist or imperialist reasoning, but the world is unfair and different regions with different natural resources imply different socioeconomic possibilities. Besides, Frazer shows us that "savagery" is a necessary step in human progess, and he does not scorn primitive cultures at all, as can be seen in passages such as the chapter called "Our debt to the savage". Actually, political correctness can be crueler than truth; I think that we should neither encourage immobilism, nor reject such valuable a book like The Golden Bough.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive
Review: Finally, a book of magical study that does not involve ritual circles. I also appreciated the in-depth historical account, though some of it was a little silly. For instance, one part mentioned that women involved in bulb gathering were not to gather bulbs during their unclean period lest there be a bulb shortage. Actually, compared to Green Magic, this is at least real, so I ought to a least give this a positive rating. It does tell decent history on the development of magic, and in the history itself it tells brief customs and also some examples of magic itself. Besides, one of the people rating Green Magic tried to get people not to vote for me.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive
Review: Finally, a book of magical study that does not involve ritual circles. I also appreciated the in-depth historical account, though some of it was a little silly. For instance, one part mentioned that women involved in bulb gathering were not to gather bulbs during their unclean period lest there be a bulb shortage. Actually, compared to Green Magic, this is at least real, so I ought to a least give this a positive rating. It does tell decent history on the development of magic, and in the history itself it tells brief customs and also some examples of magic itself. Besides, one of the people rating Green Magic tried to get people not to vote for me.
Rating:
Summary: The missing link between ancient paganism & modern religion
Review: Frazer's classic "The Golden Bough" may justifiably be called the foundation that modern anthropology is based on. While it has been discredited in some areas since it's 1st publication, it has stood the test of time remarkably well. It's still the best book I know of to explain the origins of magical & religious thought to a new student of comparative religions. I would especially suggest it to anyone interested in mythology, supernatural magic or religion, especially any of the modern neo-pagan religions. More than one critic has said that it should be required reading for everyone. Originally, Frazer sought to explain the strange custom at an Italian sacred grove near the city of Aricia. He wanted to know why it was custom there for a priest of Diana to continually guard a sacred tree with his life. Why was it required that this pagan priest murder anyone who dares to break a branch from the tree & why were so many willing to risk their lives to do so? What power did this broken branch have that made it a symbol of the priests own coming death? Why could the priest only be relieved of his position by being ritually murdered & who in their right mind would strive to take his place? What Frazer discovered in his search for answers went well beyond what he expected to find. He very quickly found himself surrounded by ancient pagan beliefs & magic rituals that were as old as mankind & just as widespread. He slowly reveals to us, by way of hundreds of examples, that ancient or primitive man was bound up in a never ending web of taboos & restrictions that regulated his existence here on earth. Every move, spoken word or even thought could swing the powers of the divine for or against pagan man. Every action was bound by religious code & any mistake could invoke supernatural retribution. The entire world, it seemed, was a reflection of the mystic other world that pagan man worshipped & everything here was symbolic of something there. While studying this idea Frazer covers many other perplexing questions about culture & belief that have affected our lives. For example, he explains the origins of many of our holidays. He reveals the original symbolism & meaning of the Christmas tree & mistletoe & tells us what they represent. He explains the pagan origins of Halloween & why it's necessary to placate the spirits who visit your home that night. He solves the question of why Easter isn't a fixed holiday but is instead linked to the Spring Equinox & just what colored eggs have to do with anything. In short he covers just about every known superstition or tradition & relates it back to it's pagan beliefs. What emerges from this collection of superstition & folktales isn't a chaotic mess of mumbo-jumbo but is instead a fully expounded religious system. Frazer shows again & again that these traditional customs & continuations of ancient rites are the basis for a religious system pre-dating any of our own. We find that in this system man can not stand apart from nature or the world. Nor can he commit any action without it's usual equal but opposite reaction. Eventually, we learn of the powerful but frightening association between a king's fertility & his lands well-being. Lastly, we learn that it's not always "good to be king" & just what sort of horrible price one must pay to be "king for a day". But more than all of this Frazer is commenting on our own times & our own beliefs. "The Golden Bough" isn't simply about ancient pagan religious ideas for their own sake. The book provides & explains these ideas so we can see how they are still in operation even today. Primitive pagan beliefs & symbolism are with us daily, besides the obvious Christmas tree & Easter eggs. Behind his exhaustive examples & explanations of mystic or secret magic rituals Frazer is actually commenting on our own Judeo-Christian religions. A careful reading between the lines reveals what Frazer was afraid to state bluntly in 1890. That idea is that all religions, even our own, are based on the same basic pagan ideas of "sympathetic" & "contagious" magic. Despite advancements in science & knowledge & even despite spiritual advancements in religion & philosophy, we're still trying to comprehend the divine with the same tools our ancestors used thousands of years ago.
Rating:
Summary: The missing link between ancient paganism & modern religion
Review: Frazer's classic "The Golden Bough" may justifiably be called the foundation that modern anthropology is based on. While it has been discredited in some areas since it's 1st publication, it has stood the test of time remarkably well. It's still the best book I know of to explain the origins of magical & religious thought to a new student of comparative religions. I would especially suggest it to anyone interested in mythology, supernatural magic or religion, especially any of the modern neo-pagan religions. More than one critic has said that it should be required reading for everyone. Originally, Frazer sought to explain the strange custom at an Italian sacred grove near the city of Aricia. He wanted to know why it was custom there for a priest of Diana to continually guard a sacred tree with his life. Why was it required that this pagan priest murder anyone who dares to break a branch from the tree & why were so many willing to risk their lives to do so? What power did this broken branch have that made it a symbol of the priests own coming death? Why could the priest only be relieved of his position by being ritually murdered & who in their right mind would strive to take his place? What Frazer discovered in his search for answers went well beyond what he expected to find. He very quickly found himself surrounded by ancient pagan beliefs & magic rituals that were as old as mankind & just as widespread. He slowly reveals to us, by way of hundreds of examples, that ancient or primitive man was bound up in a never ending web of taboos & restrictions that regulated his existence here on earth. Every move, spoken word or even thought could swing the powers of the divine for or against pagan man. Every action was bound by religious code & any mistake could invoke supernatural retribution. The entire world, it seemed, was a reflection of the mystic other world that pagan man worshipped & everything here was symbolic of something there. While studying this idea Frazer covers many other perplexing questions about culture & belief that have affected our lives. For example, he explains the origins of many of our holidays. He reveals the original symbolism & meaning of the Christmas tree & mistletoe & tells us what they represent. He explains the pagan origins of Halloween & why it's necessary to placate the spirits who visit your home that night. He solves the question of why Easter isn't a fixed holiday but is instead linked to the Spring Equinox & just what colored eggs have to do with anything. In short he covers just about every known superstition or tradition & relates it back to it's pagan beliefs. What emerges from this collection of superstition & folktales isn't a chaotic mess of mumbo-jumbo but is instead a fully expounded religious system. Frazer shows again & again that these traditional customs & continuations of ancient rites are the basis for a religious system pre-dating any of our own. We find that in this system man can not stand apart from nature or the world. Nor can he commit any action without it's usual equal but opposite reaction. Eventually, we learn of the powerful but frightening association between a king's fertility & his lands well-being. Lastly, we learn that it's not always "good to be king" & just what sort of horrible price one must pay to be "king for a day". But more than all of this Frazer is commenting on our own times & our own beliefs. "The Golden Bough" isn't simply about ancient pagan religious ideas for their own sake. The book provides & explains these ideas so we can see how they are still in operation even today. Primitive pagan beliefs & symbolism are with us daily, besides the obvious Christmas tree & Easter eggs. Behind his exhaustive examples & explanations of mystic or secret magic rituals Frazer is actually commenting on our own Judeo-Christian religions. A careful reading between the lines reveals what Frazer was afraid to state bluntly in 1890. That idea is that all religions, even our own, are based on the same basic pagan ideas of "sympathetic" & "contagious" magic. Despite advancements in science & knowledge & even despite spiritual advancements in religion & philosophy, we're still trying to comprehend the divine with the same tools our ancestors used thousands of years ago.
Rating:
Summary: 10/10
Review: Frazer's work has come under scutiny mainly from people who would like to write off what is actually a complex analysis of archaic manifestations of what we today call religion. These critics write off Frazer's work because they don't like its tone of 'cultural imperialism' and other political catch-phrases. The reviews here are full of such DILETTANT critics.
Frazer lived before political correctness got in the way of free thinking. His analysis is straightforeward and honest and any kind of 'condescension' on Frazer's part is justified when refering only to the most nebulous, psychologically damaging and absurd practices of peoples still practicing magic.
Disliking Frazer's tone is not reason enough to dslike the overall work, as some reviwers feel free to do.
If religion and cultural anthropology are are your thing and if you're intelligent enough to comprehend the absurdity of any belief in a deity - this book is your 'bible'.
Rating:
Summary: A Good One to Start With
Review: I got this book a long time ago when I was heavily into HP Lovecraft. Something about HPL's writing strikes a chord - even though it's cheesy, something about it feels TRUE, and that's scary ... so I started chasing down his sources, to read what he had read, in order to make sense of the feelings his writing evokes. The Golden Bough was the first one I found, probably because it is still widely available and can be found in most bookstores. HPL always put it on his doomed occultist characters' bookshelves alongside the Necronomicon, "The Witch Cult in Western Europe" (which does exist and can be bought here at Amazon!), and the "Unausprechlichen Kulten" of Von Juntz.
In the "Golden Bough" Sir Frazer takes the basic premise of explaining the strange rite of succession of the priest at Nemi, and uses it as a launch-pad to go into a long, drawn-out discussion of the roots of magic and superstition, and how so-called "primitive" beliefs have been common to all cultures in a certain stage of their development, all over the world.
The subject matter is fascinating, but Frazer's writing style is very dry, very British, very turn-of-the-(20th)century academic ... and he rambles. Some chapters he seems to be lost on a sidetrack, distracted by the unending cascade of interesting facts and anecdotes, but ultimately he returns to the main idea just when you thought he had lost it forever. The contrast between the "holy crap" amazement of what he's telling you and the soothing, hypnotic monotone of his written voice actually gives me a strangely pleasant tingling sensation along my spine after about 15 minutes of reading.
Of course I don't expect everyone (or anyone at all, for that matter) to have such a visceral reaction, but most readers with any interest in the shadowy depths of human thought and spirituality will enjoy this book immensely.
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