Customer Reviews

Hopi

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If one were to begin a library on the Hopi, this would be THE foundational work. Susanne Page was given special permission by the Hopi elders to photograph both their land and certain ceremonies. With the restrictions on photography throughout the Hopi lands, this book is unique in being able to share such modern images. They alone make this book a "must". The text by Jake Page is excellent. From daily life to ceremonial life, from individuals and clans to history (ancient and modern), this book covers the Peaceful Ones. The title says it (and covers it) all ... HOPI. Add this book to your library. You'll LOVE it!

I found this book to be very helpful in my quest to learn more about the Hopi. I had read "The Fourth World of the Hopi," because I was about to visit the mesas on an educational field trip. Your book gave me pictures that were incredible and made the visit even more impressionable. The Hopi people could not have been warmer or more welcoming to our small group of teachers. They were just the way you described them. Reading your book made me aware of their customs and feelings. I was careful, as we all were to abide by their rules and to respect their wishes. Thank you for writing the book. I share it with my students every year. I am glad to see a website about the Hopi. More of us need to know and understand them.

I have Hopi in laws and adoptive family members whose pictures appear in this loving--and accurate--portrayal of a world into which I was honored to be invited. I lived on the reservation itself for 8 years, and continue to be a family member and trusted friend. But having moved away, whenever I need to be reminded of what a rich and wondrous world in which my Hopi relations still reside...this book brings it all back in beautiful photos and delightful accounts of village life. And, as I recall, it was one of the first books of its kind to be openly "endorsed" by many of the Hopi locals in their own art galleries on the mesas. They were very proud of this book!

Being someone who knows many traditional Hopi families and visits often, I find this a very accurate account of America's most traditional Native tribe. Although much of their culture is private, Susanne and Jake have done a great job in depicting the social apsect of Hopi culture. The Hopi people are a joy to know. ...

Billed as a sort of coffee table book that has rare photos from behind the scenes, the reason to buy this is really Jake Page's writing. Somehow managing to make even the most mundane activity captivating, the book explores just about every aspect of Hopi culture and life.

Sure, it's interesting to know that these are rare photos of a world that we are not likely, according to Jake, again see until 2070 or so. But I believe that the publishing company treated these photos with less respect than they deserve. Many of them were frustratingly grainy poorly reproduced prints. Others were given just a couple square inches of page real estate. The subject still comes through, but this isn't the kind of coffee table production that even high class cupcake photos get today.

The socially descriptive text, on the other hand, is engaging. I found the book hard to put down. Perhaps the only knock is that I wish that they had taken the effort to create an index. Otherwise you will find this to be a rare visit to the small Hopi community. I found the last chapter particularly exciting. We're surprisingly invited to join a rare tour of the Hopi borders. From hidden mountaintop shrines to an ancient western edge of the Hopi lands down in the grand canyon, it reminds us about the stories Mr.Page provides about the travels and settling of Hopi lands on the order of a thousand years ago.

Outstanding book! GREAT pictures that probably could not be duplicated today, as the Hopi gave remarkable access to the Pages for this book. The Pages have not abused that trust.

Excellent update of the hardbound original version. Beautiful photos and layouts. Informative and easy to read text connecting the ancient past with Hopi life today. Authors share the history, beauty and traditions of the Hopi culture through the voices of the people. I purchased 5 copies, one for each of my children.

"Hopi" is a stunning 25th anniversary edition of a rare portrayal of the varied facets of life among the Hopi. Originally published in 1982 after the photographer/author team of Susanna and Jake Page were invited to visit Hopi tribal lands and record their cultural diversity and concerns. "Hopi" is filled with documentary, world class photography and sensitive summaries of some of the many Hopi tribal differences and dialogues. Chief among the factions are the Traditionalists and the Progressives, but within these large generalizations are countless subtle shadings and differences of opinion. Faithfully recording myriad details of Hopi daily life, ceremonial year events, and traditional sacred knowledge and bits of Hopi lore that were allowed to be shared with the dominant culture's representatives was the daunting goal of the Pages. They made clear the honor that was bestowed upon them to be invited to partake of the Hopi way of life for the purpose of recording even a fraction of their rich diversity. "Hopi" was nearly 8 years in the making, to show some of the time and effort and care that was invested in this beautiful project. It is a fascinating glimpse into a world already irrevocably changed by time and events. "Hopi" is a landmark effort of deep and luminous beauty. All American are enriched by these reverent efforts to present a culture in all its rich diversity.

The images and writing were both sharp and poignant. However, the quality of the actual pages in the book left much to be desired. The day after receiving this book from me as a gift, my mother noticed the pages were buckling. She lives on the gulf of mexico(FLA) where it is humid and she has an open air house. The humidity literally caused both the cover and pages to curl up just one day after it was given to her! The book did not have water spilled on it and was not rained on. As interesting as the content was, the quality of the paper on which the images were printed was so poor that I was disappointed, especially because it was a gift.

This book is absolutly amazing, with magnificint photographs, which are hard to find of the Hopi, and terrific information.