Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature [Paperback]

David Suzuki (Author), Peter Knudtson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993

The ecological answers and solutions we need to our current global environmental crisis are embedded in this living mosaic of profound indigenous insights into the workings of the natural world. These ancestral and contemporary natural perspectives and stories can save our lives and our planet.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this low-key, capacious study, Suzuki, a professor of genetics at the University of British Columbia, and science writer Knudtson (coauthors of Genetics ) compare primitive, aboriginal modes of perceiving the natural world with "Western culture's ecologically destructive worldview." Chapters focused on humans' relationships with, for instance, animals, vegetation and the universe begin with brief summaries of scientific explanation and continue with relevant myths and accounts of daily rituals of such societies as the Chewong in Malaysia, Alaska's Inuit and the Kayapo of the Amazon. Overpopulation, deforestation, solar energy and cyclic and linear approaches to time are considered; of particular interest are essays on the !OK Kung Bushmen's understanding of mammals' physiologies and the Australian aborgines' mythical prehistory, "Dreamtime." Although students of indigenous cultures may find this text basic, it presents an eloquent plea for modern society to more considerately interact with nature.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This book provides an interesting examination of some of the ecological themes that are of concern both to scientists and indigenous people in various parts of the world. The authors ( Genethics , Harvard Univ. Pr., 1989) contend that these two groups pursue their knowledge of the natural world in different but complementary ways and often come to similar conclusions. Throughout, the scientific viewpoint is compared to the native perspective. Each chapter focuses on a particular ecological or biological topic, and several pertinent examples from a variety of traditional world cultures are described. Relevant quotations from well-known scientists and ecologists are interspersed within the text, providing further thoughtful commentary. Overall, this is a well-organized, sensitive, and thought-provoking work that will be useful in popular science and ecology collections.
- Elizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 274 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553372637
• ISBN-13: 978-0553372632
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautifully written and inspiring, May 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature (Paperback)

A beautiful synthesis of native ecological knowledge and western scientific insights. Suzuki and Knudtson call for a new way of relating to nature by combining the "ways of knowing" of the indiginous and western mind. It is not only beautiful to read but incredibly important to our time. Highly recommended.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An OK book but largely a rehash of existing material, February 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature (Paperback)

David is a sincere man and his TV series The Nature of Things broke ground in many areas. This book is well written but is mainly a collection a material from other sources pointing out that native peoples have had much more experience dealing with nature than science has. Many good points but does not draw strong philophical directions for those seeking to apply the illustrations to daily life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and inspiring., August 29, 2005

By 

Wren (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature (Paperback)

With this book, David Suzuki takes us on a journey around the world and shares with us the intimate knowledge that idigenous tribes still have about the natural world they live in. Most of us live in cities and have all but lost our 'link' to the earth; this book makes me want to fight to get it back.