The Bakairi Indians of Brazil: Politics, Ecology, and Change [Paperback]

Debra Picchi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1577664302 | ISBN-13: 978-1577664307 | Publication Date: February 10, 2006 | Edition: 2

For over twenty-five years, Debra Picchi has documented how the Bakairí Indians have addressed and endured change. This up-close portrayal of how a remarkable indigenous people of Brazil has managed to hold on to many of their traditions after years of contact with mainstream Brazilian culture is written in a down-to-earth, conversational style, yet does not avoid complex issues. The original edition represented one of the first ethnographies on South American Indians to espouse political ecology explicitly as a theoretical orientation. Expanded coverage in the second edition includes material on the theory of political ecology, different methodological approaches used to collect data on populations, the latest archaeological findings taking place in Brazil, how Bakairí gender constructs have changed over the last 100 years, and the effects of population increases, mechanized production, and wealth accumulation. Both accessible and rigorous, Picchi packs much information into a slim volume, which serves as a reminder of the value of long-term fieldwork and demonstrates that research is as much about process as it is about product. Text includes reader’s study guide.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Title of related interest from Waveland Press: Kensinger, How Real People Ought to Live: The Cashinahua of Eastern Peru (ISBN 9780881338478).

From the Inside Flap

"Picchi's book reminds us of the value of long-term fieldwork and theoretically informed ethnographies . . . I consider it very rich and useful as it will introduce its readers to key debates in contemporary anthropology." -- Journal of Political Ecology, Vol. 9 (2002) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc; 2 edition (February 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577664302
• ISBN-13: 978-1577664307
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars writes how she teaches, July 17, 2004

By 

Christina Brown (Phoenix, Az) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bakairí Indians of Brazil : Politics, Ecology, and Change (Paperback)

I was lucky enough to have Professor Picchi for many a class back in college, and now have finished her book. it is well written and is very simular to her teachings. I enjoyed the book as much as her classes, always a good read!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't judge a book by it's cover, April 18, 2001

By 

Paul Wegner (Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bakairí Indians of Brazil : Politics, Ecology, and Change (Paperback)

I thought that this book would be a bit more wordy. Knowing that some anthropology books tend to get very in depth. I was suprised to find that it related to the non practicing anthropologist in all of us. It was an easy read with very little technical terms, all of which were defined. I enjoyed the fact that Picchi began with a description of fieldwork, not just jumping into the book. I thought that chapter listings at the end of the book makes this book a tool in the classroom as well. Overall this book is a well documented account of a native american group few people know about

4.0 out of 5 stars Swift, Clear Read..., March 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bakairí Indians of Brazil : Politics, Ecology, and Change (Paperback)

I was required to read this book for a topics class at my university. So, of course, I thought it would be rather dull. However, many of my classmates and myself have found this book to be an easy, informative read; Picchi's look at the Bakairi culture is amazing! Personally, I was more interested in the anthropology aspect of this text, so the chapters on ecology and the long chapter about the definition of "fieldwork" did not interest me. For someone studying to be an anthropologist, however, this would be a very good book to look into. For anyone who doesn't know anything about native Amazonians-- believe me, you'll want to learn a whole lot more about them after you read this book! It is such a fascinating topic that I wonder why it isn't researched by more people and even more students.