Book 2, Post 2
Wade Davis is a phenomenal storyteller, and his book "The Wayfinders" is a testament to that. Admittedly, I struggled getting through the first chapter—I’ve never been a strong reader, and how dense the book’s contents seemed made it even harder to read. After I got through the first chapter, though, I was absolutely hooked. Davis has a way of describing history that makes it especially easy for you to time travel to the past.
I’ve taken numerous history classes throughout the years, and teachings of imperialism and colonialism is nothing new. However, indigenous stories and history always gets lost as the way we’re taught history in America emphasizes the dominance and achievements of the colonizers.
This book was refreshing in that way: it dove deeper into histories I already learned about years prior but from a new perspective.
For example, Davis sheds light on the Polynesians. While European voyages to Polynesia were often discussed in my history classes, centering on expeditions leading to trading posts, religious missions, and settlements, Davis diverges from this narrative. He highlights the Polynesians' remarkable expertise in ocean currents and astro-navigation, which enabled them to explore and settle the remote Pacific islands centuries before Europeans arrived. This accomplishment was deemed "impossible" by European explorers at the time, yet the Polynesians' unparalleled understanding made it a reality.
This deeply contrasts the Eurocentric narrative that’s often highlighted in American history classes. If you’re interested in history or learning more about indigenous stories I would definitely recommend this book! Don’t get too intimidated by the first chapter, maybe even skip most of it (like me) if it’s too dense ;)
Hi Tina! Your post is very well written! It sounds so fascinating how you were able to gain new perspective on the history you have been told throughout your life. I am always intrigued in gaining new perspectives on historical events and have found that occurring with me a lot recently. I never read books like this one but it sounds like it really made an impact on you!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading your reflection on "The Wayfinders" -- I like how you compare this book to traditional history books and the new perspective it introduces. You provide a great example of Polynesian history, and how many of their cultural developments and advancements happened without European influence. I've also noticed a lot of history books tend to focus on the world in relation to the West, so it is refreshing to see you have found something that doesn't follow the Eurocentric narrative. Overall, great post!
-PR
Hi Tina! I really liked reading your post and how your book differentiates from the other genre of books. I completely agree with you and am also intimidated by dense books (especially pertaining to history) but the way you described this book makes me compelled to read it myself! I also loved that this book focused on a marginalized group that is often overlooked or mis-narrated in history books and classes.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
ReplyDeleteI thought your post was really well written and concise. Although I didn't read The Way finders it sounds interesting from the perspective of indigenous people. I liked how you highlighted about the Polynesians and how you touched on the fact that Davis deviates from the tradition narrative to talk about how the Polynesians were expert navigators. Learning about different perspectives is always a great way to open your understanding of how people and the world works and this books seems to do just the trick. Overall great post!
Hi Tina,
ReplyDeleteYour reflections on "The Wayfinders" by Wade Davis really resonated with me. From what you've described, Davis's storytelling seems to have a magical quality that transports readers to different worlds. I love how he shifts the focus away from the typical narratives we're used to hearing about and delves into the lesser-known stories of indigenous cultures. I also really like learning about the Polynesians' incredible navigation skills. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the book.
Hi Tina!!
ReplyDeleteI also read this book and had a similar experience to you. Thank you for sharing that you struggled getting past chapter one because the same happened to me. Reading your post gave me comfort. I am not a natural reader either, but try my best. I wanted to ask you what you though of the language extinction issue we are currently facing?
Hi Tina, thanks for sharing! Your journey from struggling with the first chapter to being totally hooked is super relatable. It's awesome how Davis opened up a whole new perspective on history for you, especially with the incredible achievements of the Polynesians. Your encouragement to push past the dense start is a great tip for anyone diving into this book. Really cool to see how it changed your view on history and highlighted the importance of indigenous stories.
ReplyDeleteHello Tina! Thank you for recommending this book to us since I didn't get the chance to look at this one yet! As a history lover, I would love to read this one as such close related to European history! Thanks!
ReplyDelete