Yanomamo - Yanomamö (Case Studies in Cultural Anthropology)

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It is unusual for an anthropologist to be able to write jargon-free English, and to do so in a way that is accessible and interesting to a general reader. Chagnon accomplishes this and more in this fascinating account of his experiences among the Yanomamo tribe in Venezuela over a 30-year period. Chagnon comes across as somebody who cares deeply about the Yanomamo, but who will not permit that passion to affect his anthropological analyses. He therefore does not shrink from drawing conclusions about Yanonamo culture that might offend those who would romanticize them. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anybody who has an interest in tribal culture. It is probably the best book of its kind for the non-specialist that I have ever read.

Chagnon does the Yanomami justice in this book. It is well written, humorous, and an excellent read. I read the book as part of an anthropology class and found myself entrenched in the book.

Most introductory ethnographies--descriptions of a variety of cultures--drag on and on. Napoleon Chagnon's Yanomamo is different. From his less-than-ideal first encounter with a dozen warriors who greeted him with bows drawn, to a Jaguar's breath as a wake-up call at 3:00 a.m. in the middle of a jungle, Chagnon takes his readers through one (mis)adventure after another. Still, Yanomamo is far more than an ethnographic thriller depicting a tribal people in southern Venezuela. Chagnon describes in detail the Yanomamos' seemingly exotic practices--the rule that a tribesman should marry his classificatory cross-cousin, or the abduction of women that invariably sparks a war, or a chest-pounding duel at any feast that might prevent an all-out battle from breaking out amid the festivities. More, he explains the significance of these (for us) strange practices: for example, marrying your cross-cousin is a very good way to keep your village together. (Read and find out how.) For more than 20 years, I have used successive editions of this text for my introductory anthropology courses. Indeed, Yanomamo is among the most widely adopted ethnographies at the college freshman level. This book is a readable yet solid piece of scholarship, one that many students will keep long after the finals are over.

This book has been criticized heavily for its emphasis on violence and warfare, and in fact there are many things in Chagnon's ethnography which could be debated--however, above all, this is a very readable, very well written book which does provide a lot of useful information. I read it as a student in the mid-70's and again last year before I went to work with the Yanomami in Brazil, and it was quite useful. I think it should be the first book on the Yanomami that any novice reads--the other books, attacking Chagnon, won't mean much otherwise