Note: This book was originally published as Not a Hazardous Sport . When British anthropologist Nigel Barley set up home among the Dowayo people in northern Cameroon, he knew how fieldwork should be conducted. Unfortunately, nobody had told the Dowayo. His compulsive, witty account of first fieldwork offers a wonderfully inspiring introduction to the real life of a cultural anthropologist doing research in a Third World area. Both touching and hilarious, Barley's unconventional story—in which he survived boredom, hostility, disaster, and illness—addresses many critical issues in anthropology and in fieldwork.
The Innocent Anthropologist Series
This series chronicles the adventures of an anthropologist venturing into remote cultures for study. Each book transports readers to a new setting, where the protagonist navigates cultural misunderstandings and humorous mishaps. With wit and insight, the narratives explore the clash between Western perspectives and traditional ways of life. It's an observational journey highlighting the challenges and unexpected discoveries of cross-cultural engagement.
Recommended Reading Order
When local contacts tipped off Nigel Barley that the Dowayo circumcision ceremony was about to take place, he immediately left London for the village in northern Cameroon where he had lived as a field anthropologist for 18 months.