The Modern Maya: A Culture in Transition

by Macduff Everton

Book Overview

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826312411
• ISBN13: 9780826312419
• Release Date: March 1991
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
• Length: 259 Pages
• Weight: 1.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 9.0" x 12.0"

Customer Reviews

The Mayas of today: Who they are, how they live and think

This book is an excellent read. It provides great estimula for both mind and eyes. As I have lived and worked among poor Mayan peasants for many months, I have been suveying the market of books that describe the situation of the Maya of today. Who they are, how they live, how they think. This book shows you it all, without pretending to be an anthropological monograph. The advantage of this book is that it does not try to submit its message to the reader in didactical terms. Instead, the photos and the accompanying essays elegantly unfold a series of descriptions, episodes and profound insights that together make it possible for the reader to grasp what Mayan life is like today, and how it evolved from the 1960's and 30 years ahead. The "photo-essay" chosen by Everton as the form of presentation is a brilliant choice. Everton, author and photographer, lets the reader see a series of facets of Mayan everyday life from the point of view of individual Mayan friends of Everton. The solidarity and love with which Everton shows us scenes from Mayan everyday life do not undermine the books credibility. All general conclusions are based on individual examples. The care for precision in details and the interest taken in describing the common episodes and daily chores of Mayan peasant life make it possible for us to get close to Everton's friends. I have not come across any other book that equals Evertons work in this respect. Perhaps the greatest advantage of the book is the way it reveals to the reader how the book came to be. Already the introductory chapters pose the problem, how we should think about the concept of Mayan culture. It discusses how Mayas are usually portrayed in the Western world, and it contemplates how this idea can be refined. Some 20 Mayan peoples of today are the descendants of the ancient Mayas who built the famous pyramid temples. But we must consider that the Mayas have a present and a future as well as a past. Otherwise, we will not be able to understand the dynamics of contemporary Mayan life, says the book. In this respect, the ever changing Mayan culture is just like any other human culture in history. Everton's photo essays form a persuading defense of the value of what he calls the "cultural diversity" of the world. Everton shows us that cultural diversity may be just as necessary for the survival of the human race as is the biological diversity found in our surroundings.

An outstanding review of modern Mayan culture

Everton profiles several Mayan families and follows their lives, in words and pictures, for twenty years. The results are compelling and the black and white photgraphy is stunning. He presents the changes that are taking place in their culture due to the demise of the hennequen and chicle industries and the rise of the tourism industry. The message is one of hope. The Maya have survived through thousands of years of change and they will continue to do so. Having met some of the people profiled in the book in person, I can tell you it is genuine in everyway. A must have for anyone interested in the Maya people and the survival of indigenous cultures!

The Mayas of today: Who they are, how they live and think

This book is an excellent read. It provides great estimula for both mind and eyes. As I have lived and worked among poor Mayan peasants for many months, I have been suveying the market of books that describe the situation of the modern Maya of today. Who they are, how they live, how they think. This book shows you it all, without pretending to be an anthropological monograph.The advantage of this book is that it does not try to submit its message to the reader in didactical terms. Instead, the photos and the accompanying essays elegantly unfold a series of descriptions, episodes and profound insights that together make it possible for the reader to grasp what Mayan life is like today, and how it evolved from the 1960's and 30 years ahead.The "photo-essay" chosen by Everton as the form of presentation, is a brilliant choice. Everton, author and photographer, lets the reader see a series of facets of Mayan everyday life from the point of view of individual Mayan friends of Everton. The solidarity and love with which Everton shows us scenes from Mayan everyday life does not undermine the books credibility. All general conclusions are based on individual examples. The care for precision in details and the interest taken in describing the common episodes and daily chores of Mayan peasant life make it possible for us to get close to Everton's friends. I have not come across any other book that equals Evertons work in this respect.Perhaps the greatest advantage of the book is the way it reveals to the reader how the book came to be. Already the ntroductory chapters pose the problem, how we should think about the concept of Mayan culture. It discusses how Mayas are usually portrayed in the Western world, and it contemplates how this idea can be refined.Some 20 Mayan peoples of today are the descendants of the ancient Mayas who built the famous pyramid temples. But we must consider that the Mayas have a present and a future as well as a past. Otherwize, we will not be able to understand the dynamics of contemporary Mayan life, says the book. In this respect, the ever changing Mayan culture is just like any other human culture in history.Everton's photo essays form a persuading defense of the value of what is called the "cultural diversity" of the world.