Papalagi, Los (Spanish Edition) [Hardcover]

Erich Scheurmann (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Integral Publishing (October 2000)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 8479015578
• ISBN-13: 978-8479015572
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,902,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Papalagi: a species heavily deseased, November 3, 2003

By 

Takis Tz. (InYourHead) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Papalagi, Los (Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

A tribal leader of the Samoans leaves his island in the Pacific and comes to Europe to "study" the Papalagi (the white man in Samoan). Upon his return he writes his observations in a book intended to be read by his tribe members.
This book (translated by a german anthropologist) is a stunningly accurate study on western civilisation, as accurate as any of "our" scientists (sociologists, psychologists etc) could ever make.
Furthermore, the observations the Samoan leader makes are characterised by a strickingly obvious "innosence" (and innocense here is very discussable as a term) and an even more stricking honesty.

This Samoan who travels over the ocean to come and "study" us has no scientific interest in his mission. His motive is that he feels that his tribe is threatened by the influence of the "Papalagi" which he deems destructive. Exactly because this Samoan wants to talk to his people from a position of someone who can justify why he feels threatened he come sto Europe intent to watch every little detail, every motion, everything that the Papalagi does. He attempts to explain all that he sees, doesnt stay on the surface, goes beneath it, and applies (naturally) the Samoan philosophy on life to criticise.

And what critique this is indeed. Relentless, mercilles, ruthless.
The Samoan leader observes that the Papalagi and his "civilisation" is heavily deseased. He observes that the white man is obsessed with illusions, obsessed with things that keep eluding him either because they dont exist or because the Papalagi has made an art out of misintepreting mostly everything on this world.

But what makes this "warning book" even more interesting is the mostly unintentional humor that keeps eminating through its pages.
Most of the things the Samoan sees are brand new to him. In his effort to make whatever sense there is about them he uses a descriptive language that will smoothen out the bitterness of his comments because at times it's hilarious.
Us, the "papalagi" dont get many chance to hear what an "alien" thinks about us and how he sees us. In fact, most of the time we'd rather avoid it no matter how important it actually is.
A precious book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No nature, no future!, January 2, 2003

By 

Tomonori Kushimitsu (Kumamoto City, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Papalagi, Los (Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

This book "Papalagi, Los" is the evergreen for me.
There is no book with which this book affected me.

Supposing the viewpoint of the man who came to Western Europe from the island of this south carries out or, it may be strange to a man of today. However, if it sees from the long history after this earth is made and man is born, which will be strange?

We "the Japanese" still understand. I think that you the Americans also surely understand. Especially, if the Native American man has not lost the original soul, he considers being felt by the heart by him.