Reviews
'Dan Everett has written an excellent book. First, it is a very powerful autobiographical account of his stay with the Piraha in the jungles of the Amazon basin. Second, it is a brilliant piece of ethnographical description of life among the Piraha. And third, and perhaps most important in the long run, his data and his conclusions about the language of the Piraha run dead counter to the prevailing orthodoxy in linguistics. If he is right, he will permanently change our conception of human language.' John Searle, Slusser Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley
"Dan Everett is the most interesting man I have ever met. This story about his life among the Pirahas is a fascinating read. His observations and claims about the culture and language of the Pirahas are astounding. Whether or not all of his hypotheses turn out to be correct, Everett has forced many researchers to re-evaluate basic assumptions about the relationship among culture, language and cognition. I strongly recommend the book. " Edward Gibson, Professor of Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"... fascinating and candid account of life with the Pirahã..." Publishers Weekly ( Signature Review )
"... unforgettable" Booklist (American Library Association)
"... Everett's experiences and findings fairly explode from these pages and will reverberate in the minds of readers." Kirkus Reviews ( starred review )
"This is an astonishing book: a work of exploration, into the most distant place and language, but also a revelation of the way language is shaped by thought and circumstance." London Times
"... destined to become a classic of popular enthnography..." Independent
"... Verdict: Read..." Time Magazine
"... like reading a letter from a wise friend." The Bookbag
"... remarkable... its conjunction of physical and intellectual adventure is irresistible..." London Sunday Times
"... Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes makes the rain forest sound like a magic mushroom." Harper's Magazine
'... compelling, addicting memoir..." Book Group Buzz (blog)
"... highly recommended..." Library Journal (starred review)
"... shares its author's best traits: perseverance, insight, humor and humility. Both the Pirahas and their interpreter make splendid company..." Cleveland Plain Dealer
"... a little as if Paul Theroux's The Mosquito Coast had been rewritten by Steve Pinker..." London Sunday Observer