Wisdom Sits in Places

Landscape and Language Among the Western Apache

By: Keith H. Basso

Narrated by: Steven Jay Cohen

This remarkable book introduces us to four unforgettable Apache people, each of whom offers a different take on the significance of places in their culture. Apache conceptions of wisdom, manners, and morals, and of their own history, are inextricably intertwined with place, and by allowing us to overhear his conversations with Apaches on these subjects, Basso expands our awareness of what place can mean to people.

Most of us use the term sense of place often and rather carelessly when we think of nature or home or literature. Our senses of place, however, come not only from our individual experiences but also from our cultures. Wisdom Sits in Places, the first sustained study of places and place - names by an anthropologist - explores place, places, and what they mean to a particular group of people, the Western Apache in Arizona. For more than 30 years, Keith Basso has been doing fieldwork among the Western Apache, and now he shares with us what he has learned of Apache place-names - where they come from and what they mean to the Apaches.

©1996 The University of New Mexico Press (P)2018 Tantor

Beautiful Book

Both narrative and educational, this book is a beautiful book of wisdom not just about wisdom.

Don't be old man owl!

Awesome book full of new and interesting ideas from a different perspective.

As an avid Sci-fi and Fantasy reader, I love discovering new and strange cultures. This book has all those thrills except for one thing, the culture is real! If desired one could go there and interact with the culture, learning the wisdom of it's people and open ones mind to a whole new world.

Yet visiting is now required. The wonderful idea that places can hold truths and be teachers is an amazing concept. It's something you could start doing as soon as you begin to understand the concepts being taught to the author by the Natives themselves.

This is a treasure trove that deserves to be plundered!

Loved it!
Recommend it!
Go get it!

Beautiful book

It's hard to describe what this book is and why it's like reading a living poem, but I encourage you to find out.

Excellent book for those interested in Anthropology and Ethnography

A must-read for Anthropologists! Incredibly thoughtful analysis of Apache Place-making. If you’re interested in learning about Indigenous communities and they’re relationship with their land/ culture, definitely check out this book.

Captivating Ethnographic Content

I cannot recommend this book, audible recording, or author enough. If you’re thinking about spending 7 hours listening to this, it’s definitely worth it.