Noble Savages: My Life Among Two Dangerous Tribes - The Yanomamo And The Anthropologists (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
I read this book while at the NJ State Bar Association Annual Meetings: an assemblage of another proud tribe ripe for anthropological analysis. The author's main scientific argument is that, contrary to his Marxist colleagues' belief that family follows function, blood indeed runs thicker than water. Either hypothesis sounds reasonable to me, but without a view from the other side, it is hard to have an informed opinion, though Napoleon does argue elegantly for his view. This is two books in one. The first describes the author's field research and how he lived among the Yanomamo people in the 1960's and 70's. The second is the reaction his work stirred up and Chagnon's defense against attacks on his work, methods and ethics by anthropologists, missionaries and advocates for indigenous people.If the first part of the book stood on its own I would not be reviewing the book in such a skeptical fashion. While there are many interesting stories the information given in the first part is not complete suggesting that the second part is not complete either. I'd like to hear the other side of the debate on the author. Here are some of the incomplete issues presented in the first part:- For about 100 pages you feel that Chagnon is the village's sole "modern man" living among an "untouched" population. Later you learn that his house was actually a 20 X 20 foot extension of Jim Barker's house. Barker was mentioned earlier as a missionary, but not as such a proximate neighbor. No interaction with Barker in this village (is he there?) is described other than that Barker allows Chagnon's kids to play in his fenced in yard where Barker raises chickens.- While Chagnon claims that the Yanomamo is a heretofore isolated population, about halfway through the book, you learn that the plantain, a large part of their nutrition, was introduced by the Spanish 500 years ago. There is evidence of more contemporary contact such as axes, machetes, rifles and other items given to this "pristine" community before Chagnon's arrival.- Rky Ward, an anthropology student, is mentioned in passing as being on the visit to Iwahikoroba-teri - a tribe of the Yanomamo that have not been visited by any outsiders. Other than giving Ward's name, this section is written as though Chagnon is a lone adventurer on this long and significant trip.- What came first, the measles or the measles vaccination program? - Similarly, and perhaps significantly, in the beginning I wondered about the genealogy research he was doing. As a lay person, I wondered how this fit anthropological methods as I understood them. About 200 pages later it says that the research is funded by the Atomic Energy Commission for reasons (something to do with Hiroshima and Nagasaki) that are not clear.- The research itself is incomplete. Chagnon is studying genealogies, where and when people were born and how they die. Not one Yanomamo died in childbirth (over several generations) according to his statistics.- There are no interviews with any woman and no comments on how children are raised. I know more about how Chagnon cooked his food that the Yanomamo.Chagnon has created some important statistics. Perhaps the limited nature of the work has brought about the criticism. He is stingy with giving credit to others which is a good way to lose the support of those who might be in a position to defend him. If this book were only about the Yamomamo, despite the issues above I'd give it four stars. It is interesting to hear how an anthropologist lives, builds huts and boats (or has them built for him), learns the language, travels about and how the Yanomamo make war and mourn, and (sadly) how the men treat women. There are lots of photos. As Chignon tells of the criticisms he's received,I couldn't help but think back to the missing links in the first part and consider the other possible ways to look at the issues.
What do You think about Noble Savages: My Life Among Two Dangerous Tribes - The Yanomamo And The Anthropologists (2013)?
Fascinating, disturbing and frustrating. I'm going to ponder of this one for quite a while.
—CookieDough
Excellent book which gives a marvelous insight into the world of cultural anthropologists.
—Keisha
