Customer Reviews

Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Amazon Rain Forest

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I agree wholeheartedly with the rave reviews for this book and it has become one of my favorites (I even sent it to an ethnobotanist in Yap as a must read). Not only is it wonderfully well-written, and not only does it address crucial ecological concerns, but it is an exciting account of Plotkin's effort to identify and explore the medical possibilities of Amazonian plants, while preserving the indigineous lore about their uses, both medicinal and spiritual; the discovery and adoption of plants by Europeans and North Americans, and Plotkin's own adventures. I found some it so fascinating on so many levels I'd read it to my family (okay, I know that may be obnoxious, but I couldn't restrain myself). It's thought-provoking, important and absolutely fascinating. Can't recommend it highly enough!!

Mark Plotkin takes the reader on a journey to the Amazon rainforests of Brazil and Suriname, along the way teaching about rainforest ecology, the medicinal plants and rituals of shamans, indigenous cultures, and his own scientific methods. Although his prose is at times tedious and repetitive, the story itself is a fascinating one, and his determination to give something back to the people of the region is admirable. The story unfolds in a way that allows the reader to understand what is happening to the rainforest both culturally and ecologically, and it offers not merely a criticism of western society but a set of reasonable solutions that could benefit the region, not just ecologically but economically. Plotkin is a responsible researcher whose work should be a model for future ethnobotanists.

Reading this changed my perspective on Western civilization forever. One example is the author's revelation that the indiginous peoples weren't hunter-"gatherers" at all, but rather gardeners of the world's remaining Eden, inheritors of an agricultural tradition far more ancient and advanced than ours. I was stunned by the realization that Western agriculture's monocultures of neat little rows laid out in a landscape of squares is the simplistic imposition of a human order on a far more complex natural order- an order that the Amazonian tribes incorporate in the design of their jungle-garden. A mindblowing paradigm shift awaits you, especially if you bring some knowledge of complex adaptive systems and/or Periodic Equilibrium evolution to this lucid journal. And this amazing personal account is a ripping good yarn. The only thing this book needs is a follow-up epilog, a "where are they now" of the pharmaceuticals, the shamans, the tribes, and the author's efforts to save them from extinction. A warning: Rereading this book in the summer of '98 while watching the rainforests of Indonesia and Mexico burn deeply depressed me. It was like a thousand libraries of Alexandria going up in smoke. Future generations will never forgive us.

What secrets lay hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest? The Shamans of the indigenous tribes know quite a bit, and most of them aren't telling. This book serves as a play by play guide to one scientist's journeys into the tropical rain forest, the Indians he encounters, and the lessons he learns (some the hard way) about the healing and sometimes deadly powers of trees, flowers and shrubs.

Filled with interesting geographical, historical and scientific facts and colorful descriptions, you'll never look at medicine, stimulants and supplements again without imagining their humble origins in plants you might just as easily dismiss as weeds.

The author bemoans the loss of the rainforests and the Westernization of the indigenous peoples of the Guianas, yet his mission is to promote further research and increased use of native plants by the huge pharmaceutical industry, a goal that if achieved will lead to large scale harvesting of the botanical and human resources in this dwindling and fragile eco-system.

On the bright side, his studies and published research serve as an irreplaceable guide to the flora of the region - knowledge that is now being lost as the elders pass to the other world, and the young Indians play Nintendo and listen to Britney Spears, thanks to the influences of "civilization".

What I found disappointing (and I may be slightly biased here) was that he mentions just a few of the many tribes of Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and Venezuela, largely leaving out Guyana, except for extensively quoting from renowned explorers like Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk and Barrington Brown, both of whom contributed significantly to his research through their published work on British Guiana. Indian groups in Guyana include the Makusí (Macussí or Macushí), Warao (Warrau), Arawak, Carib, Wapisiana (Wapishana), Arecuna, the mixed "Spanish Arawak" of the Moruka River, and many more in the forest areas, and should have been worth a mention or two.

Other than that, the narrative gets a bit bogged down in places, there is quite a bit of repetition, and after a while you can't tell your "ah-kah-de-mah" from your "ah-tuh-ri-mah". There's also the little detail that the author cannot honestly claim to be a Shaman's Apprentice, as there was no such thing while he was doing his research.

Having said that, his descriptions of the flora and fauna seem fairly accurate, as are his accounts of the hunting and fishing activities of the tribes, and he should consider himself a lucky man to have been afforded the opportunity to experience the way of life of our indigenous peoples that most people will never be able to see.


Amanda Richards, November 5, 2005

I have recently written a review of Plotkin's book, which was taken off these pages - apparently simply because I disagreed with the author's assertions, conclusions and motives. I wouldn't go so far as to claim Amazon.com engages in censorship, but this action does lead me to believe some of the ratings may be skewed.

I ahve two basic criticisms of this book: (1) The title is misleading. There was no apprenticeship involved - Plotkin learnt no ceremonies and no cures. He is not a shaman by any stretch of imagination.

(2) He is one of the hundreds of ethnobotanists who case the Amazon in search of clinically active plants; these people are no bleeding hearts - they do it for pharmaceutical industry, which generally pays a pittance to the indigenous people from whom the knowledge was taken. Plotkin himself was engaged with a such a company, called aptly enough, Shaman Pharmaceuticals.

Now I think this is fair to lay out in a review, don't you? In my mind, Plotkin exemplifies a self-righteous attitude with which Westerners venture into contact with indigenous peoples, all too often under the guise of conservancy and environmental activism.... and then write books about it. I frankly cannot see what Plotkin had to do with apprenticeship to Amazonian shamans and if this is enough to censor my review - well so be it.

I just wanted to say that this book lead me in a new direction in life. i am a medical student with no direction and this helped me realize that there is so much of value out there that we have yet even to discover let alone understand. I am not saying that everyone should have this book, rather letting others know that this book is beautiful and rich. Easy reading and powerfully amazing. There are no bad trips, only experiences. Enjoy, John

Overall, the book Tales of the Shaman's Apprentice is descriptive and informative. Plotkin does a good job of using descriptive diction to capture the readers attention and provide a mental picture. An example of the descriptive diction and the mental pictures Plotkin paints is when he is walking on the forest floor for the first time and he says "The forest floor was covered with moist, decaying brown and black leaves, and here and there I saw pieces of dead wood, covered with white, wood-rotting fungi. Small and sporadic patches of tiny, feathery selaginella moss made the only greenery; ..." (Plotkin 38). However, his stories lack excitement and any kind of thrill. If the reader is expecting a plot to unfold or a unexpected twist in the story, they should look else where. Plotkin's book is for those mainly interested in the areas of science, the Amazon, shamans, medicine, and native tribes of the Amazon. In any case though, after reading Tales of the Shaman's Apprentice readers will realize that the Amazon rain forest is no longer a "green dungeon to be avoided at all costs" (Plotkin Preface).

This book gives you a need to go down to South America and experience the things that the author has written so well about, he gives someone such an urge and strong emotions when writing of the tribes danger of extinction

Why is this book great? Two words: reads well. Many people, like myself, see scientific books as dull and hard to follow because of a general lack of knowledge regarding the subject of the book. Plotkin, however, does a great job of making this book fun to read, for the people who know nothing about how plants work in producing their healing chemicals, to knowledgeable botanists who could have contributed to this book as well. This book reads like a story, and Plotkin does a great job of weaving tidbits of humor into this journal of everyday life among the Indians of Amazonia. His humorous stories in this book are refreshing interjections to the detailed descriptions of plant life, as well. All in all, I greatly recommend this book to anyone who has ever wondered how indigenous people in the rainforest are able to survive in today's world

What a book! It is insightful, sad, laugh-out-loud funny and many other things...reading this book is a feast for both the mind and the soul. I read this when it first came out about 5 years ago, and picked up a copy recentlyfor a trip to the Amazon...it is rich in character, detail, history, adventure and excitement...truly, one of my all-time favorites."