Noble Savages: My Life Among Two Dangerous Tribes - the Yanomamo and the Anthropologists

“One of history’s greatest anthropologists—and a rip-roaring storyteller—recounts his life with an endangered Amazonian tribe and the mind-boggling controversies his work ignited” (Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature).

Napoleon Chagnon’s Noble Savages is a remarkable memoir of a life dedicated to science—and a revealing account of the clash between science and political activism.

A Journey into the Amazon

In 1964, Napoleon Chagnon arrived in Venezuela’s Amazon region to study the Yanomamö Indians, expecting to encounter Rousseau’s idea of the “noble savage.” Instead, he discovered a shockingly violent society.

Chagnon spent years:

• Living among the Yanomamö.
• Observing their often tyrannical headmen.
• Learning to survive under primitive and dangerous conditions.

A Storm of Controversy

When Chagnon published his observations, his work ignited a firestorm of controversy in anthropology:

• He was vilified by other anthropologists.
• Condemned by his professional association (which later rescinded its reprimand).
• Ultimately, he was forced to give up his fieldwork.

A Legacy of Science

Despite the challenges, Chagnon never wavered in his defense of science. His perseverance and contributions were recognized in 2012 when he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

This is a story of resilience, discovery, and the enduring pursuit of truth.