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Noble Savages: My Life Among Two Dangerous Tribes - The Yanomamo And The Anthropologists (2013)

by Napoleon A. Chagnon(Favorite Author)

3.66 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1451611471 (ISBN13: 9781451611472)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Simon & Schuster

review 1: Essentially two books in one, the first part being an autoethnograpical account of the authors time spent working with various Yanomamo tribes in the Amazon region of Venezuela (mixed in with some ethnographic data every once in a while) and the last part (the last few chapters of this large book) discussing the feuds between Chagon and those members of the anthropology community who did not validate his sociobiological research methods and conclusions (mainly that the main reason for warfare among the Yanomamo was because of women (not resources) - who were ultimately needed for reproduction and to continue the bloodlines of Yanomamo men). Part 1 was not always chronological, very repetitive and frequently discussed someone or something and stated that it would be explain... moreed later in the book (often not even describing what chapter or page). Part 1 was also much more about Chagnon's experiences and less about an ethnographic account of the Yanomamo people. In my opinion, the author comes off as pompous at times and presumptuous. He insinuates he is the main foreign contact for the Yanomamo, but he briefly mentions many other foreigners (missionaries, academics, health professionals) who also interact regularly with the Yanomamo. I would have liked to have heard more from these people about their observations of the Yanomamo to back up Chagnon's assumptions and observations. WHY he was conducting the various studies on lineages and how his research was used was only briefly alluded to in the book. Part 2 in my opinion is Chagnon's rant against the people he believes declared "war" on him or instigated "smear campaigns"(anthropologists, activists, the Salisean nuns and other missionaries. This last part is obviously very one sided. Starting with the divide Chagnon describes of anthropologists who see themselves as scientists and anthropologists who see themselves more closely aligned with the humanities. Chagon describes himself as a sociobiologist (chapter 14's first section is "How I Became a Sociobiologist") and states that his research and views alienated him from the anthropology community because sociobiology was viewed by some as an effort to apply Darwinian principles to human behavior (e.g. biological determinants). On page 387 Chagnon details how radicals in the audience at a presentation on sociobiology stormed the stage, yelling and pouring ice water on a E.O Wilson who was presenting (and who was is a full leg cast)on sociobiology. Based on Chagnon's own descriptions in this book, I think he is an antagonistic person, he details a lot of feud's and disputes he has with others (e.g. p.409 discusses his "long-time and widely known dispute with Marvin Harris)-needless to say there is evidently a very large other side of the story! This other side of the story was attempted in 2000 when Patrick Tierney's "Darkness in El Dorado: How Scientists and Journalists Devastated the Amazon" was published and encouraged an investigation into Chagnon (and others)by the American Anthropology Association which uncovered some of the allegations in the book were false. Academics are like politics and religion- lots of factions, lots of views, lots of radicals. Though I was not fond of the writing style in the first part and disliked the one-sided rants of the second part I think this book encouraged me to reflect on how I conduct research and how I want that research to be viewed by my anthropology peers.
review 2: I read this book following my reading of Anne Patchett's "State of Wonder" which is set in the Amazon rainforest.This is a big book and is in two part. Part 1 is about the Yamamomo tribe and their way of life as observed by Chagnon over 30 years of study which included long periods living with them. Part 2 is a chronicle of the difficulty he faced with fellow anthropologists. What I found amazing is that many anthropologists do not consider that their field is a science but rather consider their role to support native peoples who have been ill treated by development. Chagnons view is that primitive tribes still living in their original environment and enjoying their ancient way of life should be studied because they can help us to learn and understand our own true nature. "One of history’s greatest anthropologists—and a rip-roaring story-teller—recounts his life with an endangered Amazonian tribe and the mind-boggling controversies his work ignited. Noble Savages is rich with insights into human nature, and an entertaining interlude with a remarkable man.” (Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor of Psychology, Harvard University.) I found it absolutely fascinating. less

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