The Main Stalk: A Synthesis of Navajo Philosophy (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Although they are among the most studied people on earth, the Navajo possess a complex philosophy. . . . A valuable source for those deeply interested in the structure of the Navajo universe, its mythology, and its central concept of long life and happiness. —Masterkey

"This is a stimulating book. Essentially, it criticizes previous discussions of Navajo religion and philosophy for greatly underestimating their complexity and sophistication. . . . What the author discovers in Navajo thought is that the key concepts are interrelated in a grand, moral, ethical, philosophic, and cosmic unity." —American Anthropologist

"Discredits dualists, both non-Indian and Indian, who see simplistic oppositions of Good and Evil in Navajo culture and philosophy. The concept of walking in beauty, as related to the proper growth of the corn plant, unifies the book, and Farella does some impressive cross-cultural linguistic analysis to derive practical and ceremonial applications of these central Navajo metaphors. . . . This is one of the better books on Indian religion" —Choice

From the Inside Flap

"Although they are among the most studied people on earth, the Navajo possess a complex philosophy. . . . A valuable source for those deeply interested in the structure of the Navajo universe, its mythology, and its central concept of long life and happiness. —Masterkey

"This is a stimulating book. Essentially, it criticizes previous discussions of Navajo religion and philosophy for greatly underestimating their complexity and sophistication. . . . What the author discovers in Navajo thought is that the key concepts are interrelated in a grand, moral, ethical, philosophic, and cosmic unity." —American Anthropologist

"Discredits dualists, both non-Indian and Indian, who see simplistic oppositions of Good and Evil in Navajo culture and philosophy. The concept of walking in beauty, as related to the proper growth of the corn plant, unifies the book, and Farella does some impressive cross-cultural linguistic analysis to derive practical and ceremonial applications of these central Navajo metaphors. . . . This is one of the better books on Indian religion" —Choice --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: University of Arizona Press (July 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816512108
• ISBN-13: 978-0816512102
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #434,817 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique, compelling book, September 25, 2001

By	Ted Fernald (Swarthmore, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful introduction to the fundamental principles of Navajo philosophy. This is not a "New Age" book and it is not light reading, but it is clearly written. Navajo philosophy is quite complex. Imagine trying to explain the core of Aristotle's work to an audience that is completely ignorant of Western philosophy, and you will begin to appreciate the task that faced the author. The author does a fine job introducing the reader to Navajo philosophy and showing that Navajo assumptions about the universe, and our place in it, are compelling.

14 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good luck!, May 19, 2000

By	P. Batton (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you hold a Ph.D. in anthropology or are looking for disertation material for your thesis, or just want to hold your own at academic cocktail parties, take a try at this book. However, it's NOT for the general reader---or even the above-general reader. I have tried several times to slug through the dry text which was obviously written to impress academia and the author himself. Even with a reasonbly high I.Q. and an advanced degree, I had trouble staying interested and understanding the material. There is little doubt this author is an expert in this subject; however, he missed a good opportunity to get the rest of us interested and to impart in a readable and understandable way the obviously vast knowledge which he holds. I'm very impressed at how well the author "showed off," but I would much rather have learned something more about this fascinating subject...which was the purpose of buying the book.