Book Report: Light at the Edge of the World

Hey all-

Just finished an interesting book called "Light at the Edge of the World", by anthropologist and ethnobotanist Wade Davis. After attending a Seattle lecture by Mr. Davis, as a part of the National Geographic Society's "Live!" series, I had a chance to speak with him briefly and pick up a copy of his book.

(can see here on Amazon)

Davis makes a compelling argument that cultural diversity is not only being diminished, but it is just as important to preserve for the human race as biological or ecological diversity. Through careful storytelling of his experiences as an observing anthropologist, he shows exactly how important a culture is: another culture is not simply an interesting list of different faces, clothing, and traditions, but it's another reality; another ingrained way of thinking about our world and set of possibilities for our future.  When a culture dies, it's not just a sad inevitability of modernization... it's a tragic, forced-upon, avoidable loss of another way of thought and life. And to put in measurable terms, he uses the number of languages worldwide reaching extinction, as a scientific method of illustrating a culture disappearing. 

Davis gives several examples of indigenous societies that modern people might call "backwards", of how through their unique language, tradition, and application of human potential, they've achieved far superior and useful knowledge of their environment, both physically and spiritually. But because of their indigenous status, they are too often looked down upon, and forced to change past the breaking point that their culture can absorb. Davis provides examples where even with good intentions, modern countries have forced entire populations into destitute poverty and unique emptiness that occurs when generations of inherited way of life are wiped out. 

I highly recommend the book on many levels. First, many of the stories will simply amaze you at how interesting, richly complex, and accomplished many "simple" cultures actually are. Second, it makes you ponder the causes and consequences of these cultures being lost. The book culminates in the final chapters, giving new light as to why something like Tibet's invasion is tragic for the entire human race, but also providing hope for the future, in how we deal with threatened cultures to come.