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88 reviews for:
Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art
Carl Hoffman
3.46 AVERAGE
88 reviews for:
Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art
Carl Hoffman
3.46 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Travel/adventure writing meet true crime. Good introspection on colonialism and uncontacted peoples’ place in this world too. Carl Hoffman is one brave man!
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Grief
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was a really good book. Hoffman uses his own experiences doing the research to very good effect, both to keep the narrative flowing and to further explain the cultural and political environment in which the events happened.
Two things I particularly liked about how he wrote this are:
1) He does not manufacture a mystery about Michael's fate. He tells you in the first chapter what (most likely) happened, and the book is focused on explaining why and how.
2) He does not have complete certainty in the events (and really, no history ever does), and instead of stating his most likely hypothesis as fact like many history writers do, he lets that uncertainty stand.
Two things I particularly liked about how he wrote this are:
1) He does not manufacture a mystery about Michael's fate. He tells you in the first chapter what (most likely) happened, and the book is focused on explaining why and how.
2) He does not have complete certainty in the events (and really, no history ever does), and instead of stating his most likely hypothesis as fact like many history writers do, he lets that uncertainty stand.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Fascinating look at the story of Michael Rockefeller and the people and culture of 1960's Papua New Guinea. Gripping and thoroughly researched, Hoffman does a good job of investigating the numerous points of view--native, Dutch colonial and American as well.
Hoffman weaves a good tale in blending the history of the Asmat, the Dutch and Indonesian political and cultural situation, and Michael Rockefeller's untimely end. I usually don't approve of authors making themselves part of the story, but he made it work with the parallel-but-not journeys. Hoffman got a little too close to the magical-primitive trope at the end, but did redeem himself somewhat.
This book was a little dry in a few places, but overall an intriguing read.
A very informative read. I have come into the story with an open mind with no knowledge of the topic. The search for this one person was very extensive, but as unnecessary as it may have been for any human being, this was also a Rockefeller in a far off country. The story itself was interesting as far as learning about the culture and their primitive ways.
I enjoyed the informative read and hope that I continue reading more non-fiction like this in the future.
I enjoyed the informative read and hope that I continue reading more non-fiction like this in the future.