Yanomami: The Fierce Controversy and What We Can Learn from It (California Series in Public Anthropology): 12 - Softcover

Borofsky, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0520244044 ISBN 13: 9780520244047

Publisher: University of California Press, 2004

Synopsis

Yanomami raises questions central to the field of anthropology questions concerning the practice of fieldwork, the production of knowledge, and anthropology's intellectual and ethical vision of itself. Using the Yanomami controversy one of anthropology's most famous and explosive imbroglios as its starting point, this book draws readers into not only reflecting on but refashioning the very heart and soul of the discipline. It is both the most up-to-date and thorough public discussion of the Yanomami controversy available and an innovative and searching assessment of the current state of anthropology.

The Yanomami controversy came to public attention through the publication of Patrick Tierney's best-selling book, Darkness in El Dorado, in which he accuses James Neel, a prominent geneticist who belonged to the National Academy of Sciences, as well as Napoleon Chagnon, whose introductory text on the Yanomami is perhaps the best-selling anthropological monograph of all time, of serious human rights violations. This book identifies the ethical dilemmas of the controversy and raises deeper, structural questions about the discipline. A portion of the book is devoted to a unique roundtable in which important scholars on different sides of the issues debate back and forth with each other. This format draws readers into deciding, for themselves, where they stand on the controversy’s and many of anthropology’s central concerns.

All of the royalties from this book will be donated to helping the Yanomami improve their healthcare.

About this title

Review

"If there is one book that redefines anthropology for the twenty-first century, this is it. It is a ground-breaking study that takes us to the ethical heart of the social sciences. This is an essential book for our times." - Carolyn Nordstrom, University of Notre Dame; "What better way to learn anthropology than through one of its great controversies? Written in a lucid and concise manner, Yanomami is really two books in one: First, it is a riveting, issues-oriented text that is ideal for sparking interest and provoking discussion among introductory students; second it is an invaluable analysis of critical disciplinary questions that every anthropologist and anthropologist-in-the-making need ponder." - Alex Hinton, Rutgers University"

Synopsis

Yanomami raises questions central to the field of anthropology - questions concerning the practice of fieldwork, the production of knowledge, and anthropology's intellectual and ethical vision of itself. Using the Yanomami controversy - one of anthropology's most famous and explosive imbroglios - as its starting point, this books considers how fieldwork is done, how professional credibility and integrity are maintained, and how the discipline might change to address central theoretical and methodological problems. Both the most up-to-date and thorough public discussion of the Yanomami controversy available and an innovative and searching assessment of the current state of anthropology, this book asks far-reaching questions about how we represent ourselves, how we reproduce academic structures, and how we engage with our colleagues. The Yanomami controversy was sparked by the publication of Patrick Tierney's best-selling book, Darkness in El Dorado, in which he accuses James Neel, a prominent geneticist who belonged to the National Academy of Sciences, of knowingly perpetuating a measles epidemic during his research among the Yanomami in the late 1960s.

Tierney also revealed the human rights infractions of anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon, whose introductory text on the Yanomami is the best-selling anthropological monograph of all time - selling approximately three million copies. This book identifies the ethical dilemmas of the controversy and raises deeper, structural questions about the discipline. A portion of the book is devoted to a unique roundtable in which important scholars on different sides of the controversy discuss key issues. This format draws readers into the discussion and encourages them to draw their own conclusions.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0520244044
• ISBN 13: 9780520244047
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 400