Book 2 Post 2

 

    For Book 2 I decided to read The Wayfinders by Wade Davis. Although I have not finished the book, I am enjoying it so far. I chose the book because I wanted to learn more about different cultures through the lens of an anthropologist. I was hoping to not only discover more about these cultures, but also how to respect and honor them. 

    Initially I thought that the book would only cover the author's personal experiences, but he also includes a lot of historical background. I think this aspect is especially important since topics such as Polynesian history are rarely taught in school. I also liked how the author emphasized the judgement by Europeans and the lasting negative effects it has had on these cultures and people. For example, few Europeans documented, studied or celebrated the amazing navigating abilities of the Polynesian people. Europeans also looked down on their cultures and refused to even acknowledge their accomplishments. This has led to a deterioration of Polynesian navigation, something that was very integral to the culture historically. As Davis explains, "To sail off into the rising sun, quite possibly never to be seen again, was an act of considerable courage that brought enormous honor to a clan. "Navigators such as Mau and Nainoa keep the tradition alive by sharing their skills and continuing to brave the ocean. In this way, Davis does what the Europeans did not and records and celebrates their incredible navigation skills. 

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Wayfinders and hope I am able to read even more before we start the next book. Although I have not finished the book yet it has taught me a few things. 1. It is important to learn about and respect other cultures and traditions. 2. When learning about cultures there will likely be limited resources from the perspective of the indigenous people, as many texts were written through the lens of Europeans; it is important to keep this in mind. 3. Many moderns things such as names are a result of biased history. Such as the names "Micronesia" and "Melanesia" which were not selected by nor represent the culture of the Native people. Overall  The Wayfinders taught me a lot and has inspired me to educated myself.

Comments

  1. Vivian 340March 23, 2024 at 6:35 PM

    Hey Chloe! I also read The Wayfinders and found it very interesting how Polynesian history is overlooked in our education, despite their many incredible achievements, especially in terms of navigation. I have also been inspired to learn more about history through the eyes of other cultures. Glad you enjoyed the book as well!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Parth SuriMarch 24, 2024 at 3:53 PM

    Hey Chloe! I didn't read the Wayfinders but after reading your post I would love to. I don't have a lot of experience with anthropology and I completely agree topics such as Polynesian history are rarely taught in schools. So, I would love to read this, thank you for your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Adam RealMarch 25, 2024 at 11:23 AM

    Hey Chloe. I didn't read the The Wayfinders but it sounds like you're enjoying reading it. I didn't know much about the Europeans negative impacts on these cultures. Also interesting to hear about Polynesian culture.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alyssa CustinoMarch 25, 2024 at 11:33 AM

    Hi Chloe, I also chose this book because I wanted to learn more about the authors personal journeys and I was surprised by the amount of history the book contained, however I was also glad I learned some new things.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AlmaMarch 25, 2024 at 12:22 PM

    Hi Chloe! I also read this book. I also enjoyed learning more about historical background, especially the Polynesian history. I liked how you included a quote in your post. This book also inspired me to educate myself more as well.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alexis SantosMarch 25, 2024 at 10:34 PM

    Hey Chloe, I enjoyed reading your post about this book. I think it is always a good thing to learn about different cultural backgrounds to have more perspectives to view the world from.

    ReplyDelete
  7. sophialeeandersonMarch 25, 2024 at 11:13 PM

    Hey Chloe! I really enjoyed your post, I think it’s important you brought up Polynesian culture. We didn’t really get exposed to this in school, this books seems super interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anders MarshallMarch 25, 2024 at 11:52 PM

    Hi Chloe, I also read The Wayfinders and had a similar experience. I believe that gaining a broader perspective on different cultures allowed me to appreciate their differences far more than the history books provided.

    ReplyDelete

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