Though controversial, as it presents a picture of a tribe that still lives by hunting, and where killing is still common, Chagnon's most recent work is compelling and well written. Required reading for anyone interested in the field of anthropology, it is a testament to academic integrity over activism on atavism.
Potential readers should be aware that the one-star "review" is seemingly not based on an honest assessment of the book's intrinsic qualities, or its research, but is the opinion of an activist group, Survival International. Chagnon's work, whether you agree with his conclusions or not, is peer-reviewed and widely hailed as seminal. To award his work one star is a… Read more
I bought this thinking it would be some kind of expose of the whole revamped "Good Life" ideal being pushed on TV all the time by posh twats like Fearnley-Whittingstall and that. It kind of is, but it's essentially a short rant about what it's like to own an allotment now. It's well written but only takes about 5 minutes to read and contains no real facts or argument.
What? I can hear you ask - "but this guy is talking about saving the world, not wiping it out"
Let me start by saying that there's nothing in this book that is remotely objectionable at face value. It's all safe, harmless enough stuff.
But the phrase "ancient sunlight" is not a new one in this context. Henry Williamson, the well known British fascist, and author of Tarka the Otter and other works, often used the phrase. To him, it signified the energy of ancient days and was linked to the idea of the purity of the race. Williamson despised the modern machine age, and wrote consistently for a return to organic farming, love of nature and country. Oh, and kicking out all… Read more
