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

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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".

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?

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.

If you are apalled at the craziness of this world,if you are apalled at the way so many wars are fought in the name of religion,if you have had enough of modern materialism and if you are seeking a simple and pure philosophy then Tuiavii's Way is a "must read".In this translation by Peter Cavelti of a Samoan Chief's lectures to his people in the late 19th Century,you will be amazed at the clarity of thought that Tuiavii had .Everything he says is as valid today as it was then.You will find yourself nodding in agreement ,and at times chuckling ,as Tuiavii makes his observations regarding the behaviour,customs and living conditions of Europeans in the late 1800's.This book is easy reading.

Tuiavii's way is a timeless true story of a South sea Island Chief which captures simply and eloquently the basic truths of the aspects of progress and greed which cause human pain and suffering. Through Tuiavii's innocent yet dercerning eyes Peter offers a delightful and awakening translation of Tuiavii's stories of his travels, as told to his people after his journey to Europe 100 years ago. The story could have been told yesterday.It is the kind of book that you want to read out loud, both for it's insightfulness and for its simple, stark and humerous accounts and reflections of Tuiavii's meetings with the culture and lifestyle of western man. You will love this book and want to give it to all of your friends. When I first read it I was leading a retreat in Hawaii. One member of the group would pick it up and begin to read a few lines,then read it out loud, soon another member would do the same until we had to read it all out loud for everyone to hear the stories. Now a have several Tuiavii books around!!! Enjoy!!

Tuiavii, a late 18th century Samoa Chief, traveled to Europe to understand the "Palolagi," or White Man. On his return to Samoa, he gives a series of speeches to his people on his observations. These speeches compose Tuiavii's Way. His observations are both humorous and insightful, contrasting two cultures that cannot be further apart. Whereas the White Man prefers his woman to have a pointed nose that looks like a shark's tooth, the Samoa prefers his woman to have a round nose. And whereas the White Man is obsessed with time and cannot do anything without money, the Samoa lives in the joy of the present moment, and his human relations are based on respect for a person's virtue and skill (not money). Tuiavii's Way is a "must read" for any student of comparative culture and anthropology. Above all, it is a really fun read.

While an easy read, it makes you stop and think about how caught up we get in our own trappings and become prisoners of our culture. Fascinating and provocative.

Cavelti must be a genius of some kind. I see he's a banker and an expert on precious metals. How then could he write such an amazingly insightful translation of Tuiavii's words. Peter doesn't merely translate words (which would loose a lot of subtlety) he gets inside of the chief's mind and translates with wondrous empathy. I feel like I know this great Chief and I really understand his point of view. This is a serious book that is chock full of natural humor. I read it in spurts during my busy day and it actually gave me a new perspective on who we are today.

I spent some time in the south pacific on an island populated only by natives. I befriended one named TuWakki and he, much like Tuiavii, had a sharp, innocent wisdom about him. I found myself loosing interest in material things after only a week with TuWakki. A month later I had lost all interest in returning to the harsh life of civilization. So yes, Tuiavii's words ring true and clear and Peter Cavelti is a wonderful writer. Buy this book even if you don't think it's for you...You'll love it. -P-

In the early 100's, Chief Tuiavii intended these thoughts as a caution to Samoans against the encroachment of Western civilization. Yet his words reach across the waters and years as if intended today for me and my culture. How is it that his revelations make me happy to be alerted to what I am missing rather than sad over what I have lost? Tuiavii touches me with his simple, delightful language in a manner which reveals his own humanity as much as it does the truth. We owe Peter Cavelti our thanks for bringing Tuiavii's words into the English language. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone who would approach the future with insight and good humor.

Peter Cavelti's translation of Tuiavii's Way is a thought provoking and delightful read. Beautifully translated, it provides us with original pictures of our attitudes, activities and social temperments. Tuiavii's Way mirrors sometimes amusing, heartwarming, sad, startling but always unforgettable and profound images of man in the western world. Us! What a unique way to view ourselves. Dorothy Macina