Don't Sleep, There are Snakes

Although Daniel Everett was a missionary, far from converting the Pirahas, they converted him. He shows the slow, meticulous steps by which he gradually mastered their language and his gradual realisation that its unusual nature closely reflected its speakers' startingly original perceptions of the world. He describes how he began to realise that his discoveries about the Piraha language opened up a new way of understanding how language works in our minds and in our lives, and that this way was utterly at odds with Noam Chomsky's universally accepted linguistic theories. The perils of passionate academic opposition were then swiftly conjoined to those of the Amazon in a debate whose outcome has yet to be won.

Adventure, personal enlightenment and the makings of a scientific revolution proceed together in this vivid, funny and moving book.

Destined to become a classic -- David Papineau The Independent
Everett writes simply and persuasively about language ... a fascinating thesis ... his courage and conviction should give linguists pause for thought -- Andrew Anthony Guardian
A remarkable book. It is written with an immediacy even a Pirahã might envy, and its conjunction of physical and intellectual adventure is irresistible -- John Carey Sunday Times
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. -- Ben Macintyre The Times
Fascinating The Times
"Going native" has seldom led to a book as challenging and appealing as this memoir -- Boyd Tonkin Independent
Thorough, thought-provoking ... vivid details are combined with broader questions -- Anita Sethi Independent on Sunday
Quite extraordinary Sunday Tribune

Daniel Everett was born in California. He lived for many years in the Amazon jungle and conducted research on over a dozen indigenous languages of Brazil. He has published on sound structure, grammar, meaning, culture and language. He has been the subject of endless controversy in academic circles and is currently Professor of Linguistics at Illinois State University.

'Astonishing ... 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' Ben Macintyre, The TimesA Christian missionary, Daniel Everett arrived in remotest Brazil with his wife and young family in 1977, intending to convert a small tribe of Amazonians called the Piraha. Instead, he found a language that defies Chomsky's linguistic theory and reflects a way of life that evades contemporary understanding: the Piraha have no counting system and no fixed terms for colour. They have no concept of war or of personal property. They live entirely in the present. Everett is the first outsider to learnt heir language. Over time, he came ot understand the remarkable contentment with which they live: so much so that he eventually lost his faith. Perilous adventure, personal enlightenment and the makings of a scientific revolution come together in this vivid, compelling narrative.'Destined to become a classic' Independent

Although Daniel Everett was a missionary, far from converting the Pirahas, they converted him. He shows the slow, meticulous steps by which he gradually mastered their language and his gradual realisation that its unusual nature closely reflected its speakers' startingly original perceptions of the world. He describes how he began to realise that his discoveries about the Piraha language opened up a new way of understanding how language works in our minds and in our lives, and that this way was utterly at odds with Noam Chomsky's universally accepted linguistic theories. The perils of passionate academic opposition were then swiftly conjoined to those of the Amazon in a debate whose outcome has yet to be won. Adventure, personal enlightenment and the makings of a scientific revolution proceed together in this vivid, funny and moving book.

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