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Not a Hazardous Sport

Misadventures of an Anthropologist in Indonesia
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( 401 ratings, 60 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Not a Hazardous Sport by Nigel Barley is a delightful travel narrative that follows the author's journey as he leaves his anthropological work in Indonesia to adopt an authentic and adventurous lifestyle in Sulawesi. Through his observations and encounters, Barley offers a humorous yet insightful exploration of the cultural and personal experiences he embraces, shedding light on the intriguing and sometimes absurd challenges he faces in this remote setting. The book is an engaging blend of travel tales and cultural commentary, all delivered with the author's characteristic wit.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by vivid adventures and cultural exploration, particularly in Indonesia, through the eyes of an anthropologist. The author's witty narrative and humorous insights make for an engaging read that blends travel and adventure with delightful storytelling.

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Not a Hazardous Sport provides a magnificent end to a trilogy of anthropological journeys that began with The Innocent Anthropologist and A Plague of Caterpillars (both published by Eland).

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Not a Hazardous Sport by Nigel Barley takes readers on an adventurous journey to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, where Barley immerses himself among the Torajan people. Known for their spectacular buildings and elaborate ancestor cults, the Torajan society offers a perfect setting for anthropological fieldwork, aligning with Barley's own advice to his students to choose a location where the people are beautiful, friendly, where you would appreciate the food, and enjoy the flowers.

With his characteristic wit and attention to detail, Barley provides an insightful look into this complex yet adaptable society. The mutual warmth of his friendships with the Torajan people allows him to experience a role reversal, transforming from the observer to the observed. When four Torajan carvers visit London to build a traditional rice barn at the Museum of Mankind, Barley becomes their host. In this magnificent and self-critical finale, he finds himself explaining the absurd complexities of English city life to his bemused but tolerant guests.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780601434

Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 November 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Eland Publishing Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Nigel Barley was born in Kingston-on-Thames in 1947 and studied Modern Languages at Cambridge before completing a doctorate in Social Anthropology at Oxford. He taught at University College London and the Slade School of Art before joining The Department of Ethnography at the British Museum in 1988 where he remained for some twenty years. After several academic works, he wrote The Innocent Anthropologist in 1983. It contradicted so many cherished assumptions that it led to calls for his expulsion from the professional body of anthropologists. He remained, however, and now the book has been translated into some twenty-five languages and is often the first work embraced by students of anthropology in their studies. He left the Museum in 2002 and is now a professional writer, living in London and Indonesia. His most recent work is Island of Demons, a fictionalised treatment of the life of the painter Walter Spies.

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