Tuiavii's Way : A South Sea Chief's Comments on Western Society [Paperback]

Tuiavii (Author), Erich Scheurmann (Translator), Peter C. Cavelti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1997

Tuiavii, a Samoan chief, traveled to Europe at the turn of the 20th century and wrote a commentary condemning the very foundations of Western society. Today, at the dawn of the millenium, his words promise to cast a spell over a new generation of readers. By looking at ourselves through Tuiavii's eyes we are saddened by the loss of simplicity and humanity in our society. Yet each page, filled with Tuiavii's insight, brings us a step closer to the truth and, ultimately, to understanding ourselves. Masterfully translated; with a cultural and literary perspective by Peter C. Cavelti.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fascinating and all too rare look at ourselves through another culture's eyes. -- The Ottawa Citizen (Editor's Choice, August 8, 1999)

In Tuiavii’s Way, his insightful writings for the first time enjoy careful translation and adaptation. -- chaptersglobe.com

Profound and prescient, written from an innocent yet enchanting perspective, Chief Tuavii's judgments of Western society are invariably fair... -- PGW Canada

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

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Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Legacy Editions (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0968246907
• ISBN-13: 978-0968246900
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Need to wake up and smell the coffee?, May 23, 2001

By 

Bob Concannon (san francisco, ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tuiavii's Way : A South Sea Chief's Comments on Western Society (Paperback)

Cavelti's work here on Tuivaii's messages is nothing short of a backdrop for our own personal opportunity to "wake up and smell the coffee". Perhaps for those of us in our mid 40's it is a wonderful chance to evaluate who we really are, want to be, can be and/or don't want to become. Tuivaii's messages are really nothing so extraordinary other than simple truths and observations. Things that get harder and harder to do in our hectic lives.

I was fortunate enough to go trekking with Peter in Bhutan and got to know he and his wife as very special people. Not caught in the trappings of those of us with "city lives" they embodied a peace and spirit not often found. Peter gave me this book as a special gift after our many conversations about my frustrations with work life and the lack of harmony around time, things, and relationships. Peter and Carol are a living example that what Tuivaii has to teach can change lives. I'm working on it bit by bit, and have begun to read this book nightly before bed. I know it sounds hokey, but this work really IS cathartic. Not many books can arrest your attention with such clarity. Peter has done an excellent job with Tuivaii's thoughts and observations, and I would recommend this book to anyone. Especially the chapter on what is "time".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book of Counter-Civilization Ever, March 1, 2001

By 

carl spencer (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tuiavii's Way : A South Sea Chief's Comments on Western Society (Paperback)

How often do you have chance see yourself from the eyes of a stranger? Further more, how often does this civilization have chance to be evaluated by outsiders? Not so often, perhaps never. It is always the case that we study those outsiders, namely the "uncivilized", and we have never been studied by the "uncivilized". Well, when we are subjected to be studied by those people, the result is this book. Tuiavii -the chief of Tiavea village in Uporu island, Polynesia - nails down the deception of the civilization we believe in. His observations and considerations cover cloths, town, money, time, people, mass media, thoughts, material stuff, machine and technology, etc. The content of this book is in a sense, anthropology and we, the "civilized", are the subject. In this book, he successfully turns the table against us and points out how we are really confused in the civilized society. He, however, didn't have any intention to share his idea with the civilized. It was Scheurmann's responsibility. Tuiavii's purpose was to warn other people in Polynesia by propagating his thought, so they wouldn't be pulled in to the darkness of civilization. Although his speech was solely toward his people, his words cut right through the undercurrent of civilization supremacism in our minds and move our hearts. I've read many books, but this is the only book I remember that I was compelled to buy many copies and give to my friends. I have had searched for the English version of "Papalagi" for years. I really wanted to have my father and my friends read it. I read the Japanese version and thanks to the superlative translation, it made me feel as if Tuiavii was talking to me in person. Many felt in the same way I did, and so much so that it is still very popular in Japan (first published in '80). I even tried to translate it into English and failed. It was such a frustration to see the words died before me. Probably Scheurmann felt the same way when he translated this book as he mentions in the prologue of the original version. As for the validity of Tuiavii himself, some Japanese TV crew members for a quiz program went all the way to the island to find out if he was a real person. Unfortunately, I didn't see the program, but heard that they collected the story that there was a person from that village who went to Europe in early 20th century. By the way, according to this TV quiz, "Tuiavii" means "chief of village" in Polynesian. Peter Cavelti did a good job. Not only just realize the importance of this book and accurately translated into English word by word, he obtained the original German version and researched about Scheurmann himself. It must have come with some illustration/drowing in the original book. What did you do with it, Peter? It is also missing Scheurmann's prologue. Why?

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tuiavii or Scheurman's way?, January 2, 2007

By 

jose cabo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tuiavii's Way : A South Sea Chief's Comments on Western Society (Paperback)

I read this book long ago, as a teenager. Back then it already seemed to me that what I was reading were not the words of a Samoan chief, but of Scheurman himslef using the chief as a mouthpiece for his criticism of civilization. If you examine it closely, you will even be reminded of Gulliver's Travels by satirist Jonathan Swift. Reading it again now, my impression is still the same. As is the case with another famous "Noble Savage" discourse (Chief Seattle's), "Tuiavii's Way" is almost certainly the work of a Western critic of civilization rather than a non-Western perspective.