Author: Eduardo Kohn –
Publisher: Tantor Media –
Genre: Anthropology, Philosophy –
Overall rating: 5/5 –
Writing, content: 5/5 –
Duration: 10 h, long –
Narrator: Malcolm Hillgartner –
Narrator/performance: 5/5 –
Impressions: 5/5 –
Performance errors: 0/5 –
Complexity/reading level: 5/5 –
Audience: General
Commentary/review
The book took me longer than I would like to admit and I am not even done re-reading it yet. A few short scenes from the lives of Runa Indians living around Ávila in Ecuador, discussed for 10 hours in an immense, tender detail. Author’s understanding is not even deep – it is multidimensional to the point of folding over itself. Each clearly delineated argument goes beyond any known frame without ever stirring off the subject. The author is a subject of inquiry just as anyone else, deeply immersed in his community, the “ecology of selves” that live through signs and become forever indebted to each other with each encounter.
This masterpiece is read very well, with power, contrast, plasticity and no emotion other than engagement. I really liked the voice, it is perfect for academic material.
I love the cover. There is magic in the air and Eduardo Kohn came close to translating it to us. The cover makes sense after the book is finished, not before.
Cover photo by Patricio Gaibor on Unsplash