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travelingkayte's review
3.0
Interesting ethnography that provides a glimpse into the life of the Bushman.
ryceejo's review
3.0
For a book I had to read for school, this was pretty interesting. Some parts were very detailed/graphic that it was hard to read, but this book wasn't about enjoyment but a true narrative of real people living in Southwest Africa.
elsiebrady's review
3.0
Very interesting learning about their life from someone who spent enormous time with them. So sad to hear how things changed when they were forced to adapt another lifestyle :(
sorceress_j's review
4.0
I had to read this book for a class, and I found it much more enjoyable than I expected. That is, I expected it to be good already, but I didn't expect for it to be so good and rich in detail. I especially liked that in her account of the Bushmen, Thomas mentioned the expedition crew as little as possible in order to really focus on them. And that's why it's so easy to become emotionally invested in these people to the extent that the epilogue (thirty years after the expedition) is much more heartbreaking than it already would be by itself. The Harmless People shows a different way of life without judging its subjects and serves as proof why Western imperialism ultimately does more harm than good for many peoples, both past and present.
jeanetterenee's review
4.0
A very accessible ethnography for those of us with no background in the field. In the 1950s, Elizabeth spent long periods of time living with the Bushmen of the Kalahari and developed a deep love for them, and they for her. She presents them here as real people, and she made me care about them as individuals rather than just subjects of study.
savaging's review
4.0
I'm not an expert in the unreliable narration of white anthropologists, but I know books like this should be approached with caution, skepticism, a hearty dose of anti-colonialist critique. Marshall Thomas is susceptible to racist concepts like 'primitive' and 'harmless' and 'simple,' susceptible to both romanticizing and unfairly condemning the Gikwe and Kung people she spends time with. But even wading through that confusing soup, there's still something certain about the power and beauty of these people and their societies, and the awfulness of genocide. I'm sure there's a better way to get there than through this 1950s ethnography, but regardless it's a history that should be confronted.
panxa's review
2.0
This was written in 1959, and I don't know if I should blame the era or anthropology for the condescending tone the author often takes on. She's constantly describing the Bushmen in terms of animals, especially the women. She also keeps reassuring the reader that she believes the Bushmen when they tell her something, rather than just relating what the Bushmen said. Since she was there living with them, I don't take issue when she talks about her experiences and opinions, as long as they are reserved for her. But although I can tell this wasn't her intention, all too often a sense of judgmental superiority creeps into the writing.
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