Among the Cannibals: Adventures on the Trail of Man's Darkest Ritual

by Paul Raffaele

Book Overview

It's the stuff of nightmares, the dark inspiration for literature and film. But astonishingly, cannibalism does exist, and in Among the Cannibals travel writer Paul Raffaele journeys to the far corners of the globe to discover participants in this mysterious and disturbing practice. From an obscure New Guinea river village, where Raffaele went in search of one of the last practicing cannibal cultures on Earth; to India, where the Aghori sect still...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006135788X
• ISBN13: 9780061357886
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books (DC)
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great read, some disturbing parts....

Among the Cannibals is a fascinating book for anyone interested in other cultures and their practices - religious or otherwise. What makes this book particularly amazing is that the author truly did find people that are today practicing cannibalism. Raffaele even manages to make it seem acceptable because of that society's particular beliefs and mores. I had no problems reading the tales of the Korowai tribe's cannibalism. Nor did I take issue with the slightly more disturbing aspects of the Aghori sects in India. I think this was because all of these people come from an historical tradition of cannibalism. They believe that there is a reason for it. However, there was one thing that I found distressing. This was the coverage of the brutal cannibalism in Uganda perpetrated by the LRA. When someone is forced to eat human flesh, it is not cannibalism in its truest sense. It is torture in its evilest form. I believe Raffaele should have kept these horror stories out of this book. I think it would have served the world better had he then written a 2nd book about the atrocities in Uganda. It is writer's like Raffaele with their incredibly readable style of writing that manage to bring the terrible war stories to light in countries such as Uganda. Unfortunately, I think this is one story that will remain buried amongst the cannibals.

More a travel account than real anthropology, but highly enjoyable

Among the Cannibals is a truly fascinating book. It's a travel account, anthropological explorations, and adventure story rolled into one, with some exotic religious practices thrown in. Raffaele visited with some very unusual--and sometimes scary--people to get to the bottom of cannibalism in the contemporary world. The truly faint of heart might not be prepared to read about the flesh-eating practices of so many cultures, which in fact are highly variable and have very different meanings to different groups. But the author does a very pleasant job telling the story of his journeys and bringing us into such secluded worlds, with fascinating pictures of those he encounters along the way. I loved this especially for the peek it gave into different and almost entirely isolated cultures. Raffaele seemed very good at getting the subjects to open up to him. The Korowai, in New Guinea, for example, took him into their home even though he was the first white man they had ever seen. An impressive feat. And while he finds the practice of cannibalism extremely distasteful, he's able to discuss the tribal habits calmly and coolly, giving us as readers lots more great information.

Travel Narrative that treks to the heart of cannibalism

I'm biased. I bought this book accidentally while looking for "Dinner with a Cannibal", so I was looking for a more anthropological approach to cannibals than a travel narrative. That didn't keep me from finishing it though. The more cannibals the better! Bearing that in mind, I can see people loving and being ever so slightly underwhelmed by this book, with most people happy its on their shelf. Squeamish parts and some great details really bring this book to life and Paul Raffeale does a fantastic job of putting us in his shoes (hiking boots, realistically). Whether with a tour guide with a reluctant taste for flesh or deep in the jungle, you're there with him. He's an editor for Smithsonian, so you know he has the chops (eugh). On the negative (for me--probably not all readers) I was a little put off on some of his adjective use. I'm a scribbler when it comes to books and there's a big exclamation point next to where he described cannibals as "demonic". Please leave that to the reader. Again, I was looking for an anthro type book...take this with a grain of salt. What's to love: +It's about cannibals! 'nuff said. +How travel fiction should be on such an amazing topic. He's gutsy! (double eugh) +You're right next to Raffeale as he travels to exotic locales and experiences tremendous characters & cultures. The distracting bits: -Raffaele was a little too judgmental for my taste. -Not the book I went to the store for...negative on me not the book. If you're into travel narratives, odd topics (yes, please), or want to take a break from all of that fluff, summer reading on the shelf right now, this book will give you something to sink your tee- just kidding, I won't go that route. It's an fascinating but imperfect book that I can happily recommend. Eat up!