Reviews for Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America

The average rating for Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-09-07 00:00:00 David White What an amazing man Ishi was. His entire people, the Yahi of California, were wiped out by white settlers in the late 1800s - for no justifiable reason, I might add - and after years of living in hiding with just 3 or 4 other people, the others' deaths/disappearances had left him all alone. In profound loneliness and despair, he stumbled into white man territory, fully expecting to be killed or worse. Instead he was taken in by kindhearted scholars who showed him respect and love, and who wanted to learn whatever he was willing to teach them about his long-dead people. Ishi showed them the same respect, love, and willingness to learn in return, and his cheerful disposition and childlike wonder at everyday things the white man took for granted inspired a generation. Inspired me, too, 100 years later. That a man could go through so much and not have a trace of anger or distrust in his heart is just about as inspiring as you can get. I'll say it again - what an amazing man! He left a lot of brokenhearted friends behind when he died, much too soon, the last of his kind in more ways than one. His close friend, Dr. Saxton Pope, wrote this when Ishi died - "And so, stoic and unafraid, departed the last wild Indian of America. He closes a chapter in history. He looked upon us as sophisticated children - smart, but not wise. We knew many things, and much that is false. He knew nature, which is always true. His were the qualities of character that last forever. He was kind; he had courage and self-restraint, and though all had been taken from him, there was no bitterness in his heart. His soul was that of a child, his mind that of a philosopher." Not many books can be so tragic and yet so hopeful at the same time. The description in this book of the long-dead Yahi culture is so vivid and beautiful that it really brings it home to you what the world lost because of the recklessness and greed of the gold rush settlers. They wiped out a beautiful cuture that was completely in-tune with nature simply because they'd found lumps of shiny metal in nearby rivers and streams. But Ishi himself didn't get angry about it or demand to be reimbursed for what he'd lost. He accepted that that phase of his journey was over, and he moved on to enjoy the next phase. What a lesson we all can learn from him.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-10-21 00:00:00 Liam Michaels Interesting to view this bio through the gauze of 3 periods over the last hundred years - or at least try. Here goes: 1915 (Ishi's death): a biography of a non-fighting, non-Chief, non-Plains Indian whose only claim to fame is being the last of his tribe? Maybe some sensationalist magazine articles and a few scholarly anthropological papers, but that's it. 1961 (publication of Theodora Kroeber's "Ishi" bio) : The time is perfect; not only is this bio long overdue, it is also perfectly in tune with the emerging native awareness and ethnic pride movements. A beacon of empathetic integrity in a scholarly package. 2013: The book is having trouble getting through contemporary radar screening for political incorrectness and racial/ethnic/cultural condescension, notably in part 2, detailing Ishi's life as assistant janitor and resident anthropological specimen at the museum headed by Professor A.L. Kroeber (1876-1960; the author's late husband and to whom the book is dedicated). So, taking the time frame into mind and without discounting the whole book, I'd say this merits about 3 stars. The first half, detailing the history of the Yahi within the larger context of their Yana appurtenance, is well-documented and sound. Part two, dealing with Ishi's 4 scant years in the civilized world, is (necessarily since she never actually met the man) sketchier; more anecdotal and speculative than biographical. The author fills in the blanks as best she can, attributing thoughts and feelings to Ishi that may or may not make contemporary readers cringe: On his janitorial duties: He was most grateful for the work, having observed that everyone in the white world had a regular job for which they received a regular wage. And he was pleased to have the "mahnee", which permitted him to pay for his own food and whatever else he wanted, instead of having it given to him. He was a proud person, to whom economic independence meant a great deal. And how about this one: Ishi was not given to volunteering criticism of the white man's ways. But he was observant and analytic, and, when pressed, would pass a judgement somewhat as follows. He approved of the "conveniences" and variety of the white man's world -neither Ishi no an people who have lived a life of hardship or deprivation underrate an amelioration of those severities, or scope for some comforts and even some luxuries? He considered the white man to be fortunate, inventive, and very, very, clever; but child-like and lacking in a desirable reserve, and in a true understanding of Nature - her mystic face; her terrible and her benign power. Hmmm. "something like" is about right. Put the words in his mouth and add a lump of Noble Savage sentiment at the end. Well, this was 1961...