- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Profile Books (6 Nov 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1846680301
- ISBN-13: 978-1846680304
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
244,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Central & South America > Brazil > Amazon
Don't Sleep There are Snakes
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Dan Everett has written an excellent book. First, it is a very powerful autobiographical account of his stay with the Piraha in the jungles of the Amazon basin. Second, it is a brilliant piece of ethnographical description of life among the Piraha. And third, and perhaps most important in the long run, his data and his conclusions about the language of the Piraha run dead counter to the prevailing orthodoxy in linguistics. If he is right, he will permanently change our conception of human language.' - John Searle, Slusser Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley'This is an astonishing book: a work of exploration, into the most distant place and language, but also a revelation of the way language is shaped by thought and circumstance.' Ben Macintyre, The Times'Astonishing... a warm tribute to this people's unique way of seeing the world... full of wonder while conveying the fragility of the Piraha way.' Waterstone's Books Quarterly
Edward Gibson, Professor of Cognitive Sciences, MIT
'Everett is the most interesting man I have ever met... a fascinating read'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
110 of 112 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never Read a Book so Quickly!,
By
This review is from: Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle (Paperback)
I bought this book on Saturday. It's Monday now and I've just finished it, which for me is very fast indeed, and a reflection on what a fascinating and well written book it is.
I heard the author talking about his travels and studies on BBC Radio 4 and thought his ideas about linguistics were interesting, but when I had a quick look at the book before I bought it I realised it was much more than an work about the theory of language. It's actually a rare combination of exciting adventure story, anthropology AND linguistics. The conclusions Everett reaches after 30 years of living amongst the Piraha people get right to the heart of what makes us who we are as human beings, and provide a fascinating insight into another way of life we would otherwise never have heard of, or at least would understand only superficially. The first half of the book focuses on the lives of the Piraha (and the experiences of Everett living with them), the second half focuses on the linguistics. This structure works really well and the book is a great fusion of entertainment and information throughout.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Timely Parable,
By
This review is from: Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle (Paperback)
Daniel Everett's beautufully written account of a linguist and missionary who arrogantly intends to 'convert' an obscure and endangered Amazonian tribe to Christianity, and thereby 'save' them. But he discovers that they are the happiest people he has ever met, living completely in the moment, with none of the psychological hang-ups that plague so-called civilized people. In a moving and courageous book, the author describes his deep admiration forthe tribe and eventual decision to give up 'the crutches' of orthodox religion and embrace a spirituality of the now.
Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't sleep, there are snakes,
By Anka (Berlin, Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle (Paperback)
I love this book. It is very interesting to read about the Amazonian tribe, fascinating to hear about people that live completely in the present and have no need for our knowledge, technology or God. I also enjoyed the description of their language - a language that can be spoken, hummed or even whistled. I have to admit though that I skipped the chapter about linguistic theroy.
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