Book of the Hopi

By: Frank Waters

Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab

The secrets of the Hopi road of life revealed for the first time!

In this strange and wonderful book, thirty elders of the ancient Hopi tribe of Northern Arizona—a people who regard themselves as the first inhabitants of America—freely reveal the Hopi worldview for the first time in written form. The Hopi kept this view a secret for countless centuries, and anthropologists have long struggled to understand it. Now they record their myths and legends, and the meaning of their religious rituals and ceremonies as a gift to future generations. Here is a reassertion of a rhythm of life we have disastrously tried to ignore and instincts we have tragically repressed, and a reminder that we must attune ourselves to the need for inner change if we are to avert a cataclysmic rupture between our minds and hearts.

Deeply steeped in Hopi mysticism...Combine(s) Hopi art, history, tradition, myth, folklore, and ceremonialism with dignity and authority...Deserves to be part of the library of any student of the American Southwest. —American Anthropologist

Skillfully narrated by Kaipo Schwab.

Produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©1963 Frank Waters (P)2024 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

Great: But is an audiobook.

Don’t listen to the other review. There are a few sections where they’ll say “reference picture 18” or something like that, but it’s a perfectly fine audiobook. The supplemental material is just for added benefit, but ‘steady stream’ is hardly accurate. My impression is that they listened to the first two ‘great’ hours and then gave up.

Moving, inspiring, & heartbreaking

I was inspiring to hear about the integrity of the Hopi, and heartbreaking to hear about how that integrity was used by so many two destroy so much of the indigenous Hopi traditions.

Great: But not an Audiobook.

Don't get me wrong - the first 2 hours or so are riveting. The narrator is great. The issue is that as soon as we get into the middle of the book it's a steady stream of "reference this picture" or "see this graphic." I only listen when I walk or drive...even given the supplemental material it simply won't work. If you're interested in Hopi history and mythology, go for it - but if you're going to do the Audible version, be prepared to have the supplemental material handy.

This book has integral illustrations

Dry narrator; no illustrations about the Kachinas and ceremonies; best new or eBay; current matter is debatable.