Customer Reviews

Whispering in the Giant's Ear: A Frontline Chronicle from Bolivia's War on Globalization

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I thought I'd just grab a primer on Bolivia, but got a whole lot more when I picked this book up. This guy is so multi-faceted, you never know what he's going to write next. Nearly every passage in his work make you angry, make you take sides, make you pause with a sense of befuddlement. Sometimes I folded it in front of me just to let a particularly beautiful revelation or moment sink in.

For anyone who is eager (or compelled) to learn about the actualities of Bolivia's incredible past five years, its "war on globalization", this is the book to read. Powers, who was one of the few "there", talking and sharing with those involved and wholly understands what occurred. This is apparent in his telling of the Indian road-blocks, impending rain-forest catastrophe, and the stories of real people that you can relate to.

After reading William Powers, the world becomes a far stranger, grander, mythical, more intriguing--and puzzling-- place than ever before.

Now I have a better appreciation of Bolivia-its geography and culture. WHISPERING IN THE ELEPHANT'S EAR extends my understanding of globilization beyond our Western concerns of the East. It makes me equate the impact of globilization similar to that of the Industrial Revolution. In retrospect, the progress of that revolution ultimately involved all nations without particular attention to geography and culture. Now we hope to integrate the two without paying the price environmentally.

Powers' descriptive writing is powerful. I could have used a glossary of Spanish words. Although his personal anecdotes are entertaining they seem secondary in a book of such importance. Perhaps more anecdotes on indiginous people would have been more significant.

WHISPERING IN THE ELEPHANT'S EAR is a must read for those interested in our complex planet.

I learned of the concept of carbon credits when I read Big Coal. It seemed like an interesting idea, but I was curious about investigating it from the perspective of those countries participating on the other side of things. Whispering in the Giant's Ear was an excellent choice to reveal the conseqenses of our exploitation of non-renewable resources on "less developed" nations. Powers does an outstanding job of providing an interesting narrative with which to educate the reader about the role carbon credits are playing in the struggle of indigenous people to gain political power in a nation that is caught up in the process of globalization. The number of characters is not so many as to cause confusion, but enough to provide insight into several segments of Bolivian society. A sympathetic portrait of the indigenous peoples of the poorest of South American nations.

I have to say, I'm envious of Bill Powers' writing abilities and his experience in Bolivia. Thanks to his detailed descriptions of character conversations, speeches, emotions, reactions, etc., I feel like I could easily recognize any of his Conservation International colleagues - Salvador, Smithers, Len - if I saw any one of them on the street...or deep in the Bolivian jungle. I did wonder whatever happened to the author's relationships with Daniel and Anaí - two of the author's close friends - but at the same time both side-stories were pleasantly left open to the possibilities. This book provides a highly readable, history of Bolivia and it's current political and environmental challenges. In addition, it provides a detailed look into the relationships between a "gringo" do-gooder and his Bolivian counterparts.

I have written a full review of this book [...]but in short, I think this book is very well-written and honest. Powers is a keen observer of Bolivian culture and is not afraid to present us with situations that do not fit neatly into even the narrative he wishes to create. This is well worth reading, both by Bolivianists and by those who are curious about the politics surrounding indigenous groups and national parks in South America.

I have just finished Whispering in the Giant's Ear and felt compelled to write a review. So much of what Powers has written about Bolivia has struck a chord with me, as I have just returned from Bolivia on assignment for a Canadian magazine. As I read this book, I found myself on the edge of my seat, anxious to see how Powers dealt with many of the same contradictions and frustrations I witnessed traveling through the Andes and into the low-lying areas in the east. This book's obsession with the fine line between romanticism and pragmatism, the spiritual difficulty in assigning "value" to a forest in order to ensure its protection, makes it an absolutely crucial (and very entertaining) read for anyone interesting in globalization, indigenous rights, environmentalism, global warming, Kyoto, NGOs... the list goes on. Pick up this book. Expose yourself to one of the most heart-wrenching (and under-reported) social dramas currently unfolding on our planet.

So much good writing is being done about the need to develop sustainable life styles that it's difficult to sort out the best. This is a very important and readable book in that context. William Powers was there in Bolivia struggling with the tension between an indigenous Amazon tribe and the attempt of apparently well-meaning nonprofits and industrialists to change the natives. For those who think we can go back to living in the pre-industrial world, and for those who are looking for a better answer, this is an engaging story of great importance.

Whispering in the Giant's Ear: A Frontline Chronicle from Bolivia's War on Globalization by William Powers. I found out more information about him on his website[...]. The book covers the author's experiences on the ground in Bolivia over the country's dramatic last five years. The book is eloquently written, filled with anecdotes from Mr. Powers' time there, and many other essential details one should know when visiting this lesser known place. This book provides a highly readable history of Bolivia and its current challenges. Additionally, it provides a detailed look into the relationship between a "gringo" do-gooder and the locals. It's a must read for anyone planning on visiting Bolivia any time soon.

William Powers' book gave me knowledge that only an individual with personal experience in his subject area can give. Going into the Bolivian Amazon, the author brought with him preconceived notions of how

the environment there should best be handled for the benefit of all. He left knowing that no program there would be a success unless the long-held beliefs, perceptions, and practices of indigenous peoples were incorporated into such a program.

I found Power's enlightenment both exciting and encouraging. His experience means that the rest of us can can be enlightened as well, if only we want to be. It also clarified why some 'green' projects are doomed from the beginning, i.e. when local issues are ignored or mishandled.

In addition, this book is very well written and a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.