Here is a book that makes an original thought in the literal sense, and therefore unique.
Originally, the question on the role of the sacred in primitive societies, from the observation of its absence in modern societies, as opposed to primitive societies (although these terms are never really defined).

René Girard shows how, in our Western societies, the role of Sacred is replaced by the legislature, and therefore the entire justice system, primarily for review and the nature and function of the sacred in primitive societies said, leaning to to the ancient texts (Bible and tragedies).

this is what the cons up traditional theories that see the sacred in a set of beliefs, of deception, a drug of uncivilized people.

For the author, it is quite another. The holy through the sacrifice (human or animal) crystallizes on the sacrificial victim (or surrogate) any reciprocal violence in society. Reciprocal insofar as any violent act leads to the principle of mimicry (mimic men unconsciously seek the same objects) repression … where an endless chain. The sacrifice can stop this vicious cycle by creating a violance unanimous, that is to say all violence, meeting, a cons: the victim. the victim should not be treated like the original culprit. For sacrifice the original guilty returned to practice reciprocal violence.

Later, René Girard discusses the loss of the sacred in the modern celebrations, where the significance of unifying rite of purification has disappeared, remaking arise reciprocal violence.
Followed Guess Whose thoughts on structuralism of Levi-Strauss, the process of imitation, or even challenged some notions psychanalitiques (Oedipus myth).

In short a book to think deep and hard-hitting, tough enough for the dilettante, but constitutes a good compromise between the hermetic study, and outreach. And who gives a new vision of how our society …