Product Description

Although Daniel Everett was a missionary, far from converting the Pirahas, they converted him. He shows the slow, meticulous steps by which he gradually mastered their language and his gradual realisation that its unusual nature closely reflected its speakersÂ’ startlingly original perceptions of the world. He describes how he began to realise that his discoveries about the Piraha language opened up a new way of understanding how language works in our minds and in our lives, and that this way was utterly at odds with Noam ChomskyÂ’s universally accepted linguistic theories. The perils of passionate academic opposition were then swiftly conjoined to those of the Amazon in a debate whose outcome has yet to be won. Adventure, personal enlightenment and the makings of a scientific revolution proceed together in this vivid, funny and moving book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #107237 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'Dan Everett has written an excellent book. First, it is a very powerful autobiographical account of his stay with the Piraha in the jungles of the Amazon basin. Second, it is a brilliant piece of ethnographical description of life among the Piraha. And third, and perhaps most important in the long run, his data and his conclusions about the language of the Piraha run dead counter to the prevailing orthodoxy in linguistics. If he is right, he will permanently change our conception of human language.' - John Searle, Slusser Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley'This is an astonishing book: a work of exploration, into the most distant place and language, but also a revelation of the way language is shaped by thought and circumstance.' Ben Macintyre, The Times'Astonishing... a warm tribute to this people's unique way of seeing the world... full of wonder while conveying the fragility of the Piraha way.' Waterstone's Books Quarterly

Edward Gibson, Professor of Cognitive Sciences, MIT
'Everett is the most interesting man I have ever met... a fascinating read'

From the Back Cover
Daniel Everett moved his young family to the Brazilian jungle hoping to help a remote Amazonian tribe find God. But he was the one that made a life-changing discovery when he realised that the Pirahas could be the key to transforming our whole understanding of human language. No outsider had ever been able to understand the Pirahas. But Everett’s steely dedication allowed him to master their extraordinary tongue – even as he faced the challenges of raising children in a jungle crawling with deadly snakes, spiders and tropical diseases. Everett gradually grew to realise that the tribe’s astonishing outlook on life had shaped the evolution of their unique language. This relationship between culture and grammar completely contradicts Noam Chomsky’s universally-accepted theories, rocking the foundations of linguistic theory to the very core. Personal enlightenment, familial challenges and the teeming Amazon are brought to life in this vivid and moving account of one of the most curious cultures on Earth – and the scientific revolution that could yet be sparked by their amazing language. Dan Everett has written an excellent book … If he is right, he will permanently change our conception of human language. John Searle, Slusser Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley Dan Everett is the most interesting man I have ever met … His observations and claims about the culture and language of the Pirahas are astounding … I strongly recommend the book. Edward Gibson, Professor of Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Customer Reviews

Never Read a Book so Quickly!
I bought this book on Saturday. It's Monday now and I've just finished it, which for me is very fast indeed, and a reflection on what a fascinating and well written book it is.

I heard the author talking about his travels and studies on BBC Radio 4 and thought his ideas about linguistics were interesting, but when I had a quick look at the book before I bought it I realised it was much more than an work about the theory of language. It's actually a rare combination of exciting adventure story, anthropology AND linguistics. The conclusions Everett reaches after 30 years of living amongst the Piraha people get right to the heart of what makes us who we are as human beings, and provide a fascinating insight into another way of life we would otherwise never have heard of, or at least would understand only superficially.

The first half of the book focuses on the lives of the Piraha (and the experiences of Everett living with them), the second half focuses on the linguistics. This structure works really well and the book is a great fusion of entertainment and information throughout.

A Timely Parable
Daniel Everett's beautufully written account of a linguist and missionary who arrogantly intends to 'convert' an obscure and endangered Amazonian tribe to Christianity, and thereby 'save' them. But he discovers that they are the happiest people he has ever met, living completely in the moment, with none of the psychological hang-ups that plague so-called civilized people. In a moving and courageous book, the author describes his deep admiration forthe tribe and eventual decision to give up 'the crutches' of orthodox religion and embrace a spirituality of the now.
Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle

Fascinating
I bought this book based solely on the review by Mr. Baxter and I must say I wasn't disappointed. Chronicling Dan Everett's brave decision to live with the Pirahas tribe deep in the Amazonian jungle and the everyday struggle to live and communicate with an extremely isolated and recalcitrant people.

There are some amazing stories of survival contained within these pages and the determination of Everett in the face of such adversity is amazing. I suppose going out as a missionary and a linguist the task was going to be monumental but as he lived among these people Everett learned a lot about himself and questions of morality and beliefs abounded. I wont give the story away but there is a fascinating twist in the tale. Highly recommended.