The Serpent and The Rainbow - Wade Davis BOOK REVIEW

[@sohinisarker3551]

This video changed my evening plans....and saved me from attending a party. Now I'm just gonna stay at home and read. Thank You.

[@bobbyboljaar7513]

Turns out that Wade Davis inspired three X-Files episodes. What a hero.

[@MisterWondrous]

I attended a talk by Wade's teacher and mentor, Dr. Richard Evans Schultes, once, in Cambridge, where he strolled in, probably in his 70s, wearing the attire you might expect, and even a pith helmet, I'm pretty sure. Anyway, he was father of Ethnobotany, and spent much of his life in the rainforest. He said, and I jotted it down: "Monoculture breeds disease." He went on to talk about medicines, the vast array of flora in the region...which was ten times what ours is. Was. He also spoke of hallucinogenic plants and their effects. Most questions related to that. He wrote the book on hallucinogenic drugs. I need to read more of Wade's works. And also see the movie they made of this book. I hear it is great. Thanks for your great selections and reviews.

[@pintsenz]

Your reviews always make my week. Thank you so much for your videos. I appreciate it a lot:)

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I'm thrilled to hear it Melanie, thank you very much for watching

[@eldridgebrown3907]

This is a fantastic review. I saw the Wes Craven film when it came out and it scared the crap out of me. I know the book is very different. This is perfectly timed. My personal studies thus far have been History, Mythology, and Comparative Religion. Two years ago I made a great friend while working at a library and he's an Anthropologist. When we started talking we would never shut up. After about 2 months, I decided to go back to school, finish my History degree and then transition to Anthropology. Finding your lecture on this book right now, makes me want to read it RIGHT NOW!!! Thanks for that!

[@user-mf1rz9mn3l]

Every time i watch your videos, I truly feel that i'm learning. You are a very interesting and knowledgeable individual; you know things but you are not pretentious about it, and your voice is really soothing, thank you for making these videos and allowing people such as myself getting to know all the books and authors you mention.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks for watching, my pleasure.

[@meshkatzaman5491]

I have recently discovered your channel, you articulate your thoughts and opinions very well, i like that very much.

[@ZombieDragQueen]

It's one of my favourite books and you sum it pretty concisely describing Davis as "ethno-botanist meets Indiania Jones" because that's what I got from reading the book. My favourite chapter was also on the history of Haiti. As a tangent, I have a book written by occultist EA Koetting and Baron DePrince (a Haitian bokor, I gather) called "The Spider and The Green Butterfly" which is a manual on Haitian vodoun rituals. The author warns the practitioner that Haitian vodoun magick is unlike Western one based on Judaeo-Christian tradition where you summon a demon or angel to do your bidding and then banish them. The book warns that due to Haiti's history regarding slavery, the loas themselves will not be controlled in that fashion. If you decided to seek spiritual counsel with the loas then you will have to accept that once you've done so, the loas will be a permanent presence in your life.

[@TheZombieheadetsy]

I love your excitement and breakdown of this book. Big fan of wade Davis. I am now subscribed to your channel.

[@martinhall932]

By the way Clifford, did you recall the voodoo scene in Suttree while you were reading the Serpent and the Rainbow?

[@Lemongrass333]

This seems so interesting! I'm going to read it asap. Thanks for yet another great review!

[@soldiersdisease]

I just ordered this yesterday, but thought I'd look up any supplemental information here. Thanks for the review, I'm really looking forward to reading the book and have subscribed to your channel.

[@paulthomas1480]

I read this book in the late 80s and really enjoyed it. thereafter i read Zora Neale Hurston's "Tell My Horse" which I also enjoyed. I'd misplaced my copy of "The Serpent and The Rainbow" somewhere along the way and found a copy of it at my local Goodwill last week.

[@captainkolding]

Thanks Clifford, you are a great inspiration. Enjoying this video, while drinking a lovely cup of coffee. Aahh!

[@zechariahmacaulay7329]

Three years later and I’m finally beginning this book.

[@whatupdude96]

Played this while I zoned out. From the bits I gathered this sounds interesting. Can't wait to watch this again in a better mindset.

[@未知-w8j]

why this great guy only get 432 views? seriously, people you don't have to like it but do yourselves a favor and watch him speak. I am confused that people are interested to hear guy impersonate a cat voice in you-tube than a guy who present knowledge with infectiously cool energy

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks a bunch man - happy to have you watching

[@taylor6735]

Everyone doesn't have to use youtube the way you do. You want to learn about a book and they want to watch a cat. What if they have their "book guy" already. Cool that you want more support for this guy but chill bro...how about you contact him and help him market his channel lol

[@andrewreyespatriot]

Love this review, Better Than Food. Didn't have an interest in the Haitian society until now and you've completely convinced me! Buying this now. Been a huge fan since your Blood Meridian review. Thanks!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Andrew Reyes My pleasure!

[@lisalynch4546]

Fascinating! Thanks for the review! I'm new to your channel and your passion drew me in. I can't wait to watch more. Thanks again!

[@thomasfranche6770]

Wade Davis put out another version of this book, a more "academic" version, which is far superior. Passage of Darkness. But I don't think the academics ever took him seriously (though the opinions of many academics are no longer very credible anyway - universities are not what they used to be).

[@efleishermedia]

Somehow I knew Datura was involved. That shit will get you all loopy. Another hallucinogen that seems to pop in the most interesting places and history is Amanita Muscaria. I always loved the Berserker story. Another great review. :)

[@finickityreader5274]

Voodoo dolls are often thought to come from Poppet dolls, a European tradition.

[@fraudron3455]

Hey man, love your videos. Have you read any of Freud's work, I would love to know if anything is worth the read. And I read Euripides Bacchae I liked but still did not follow who the Tragic Hero was, but I think it was Dionysus. Maybe you can take a crack at it.

[@martinhall932]

I agree with what you relayed from the book: "Belief plays a big role in... the sorcery, the magic." The same can be said of conventional religion. God exists when people believe in the concept. The belief creates the effects. I'm an atheist but I believe in the positive effect of religion, as well as acknowledge the multiple negative exploitations of such belief.

[@Kokirikid101]

Enjoy your videos a lot dude. I highly recommend Petersburg by Andrei Bely to you, specifically the McDuff translation (Bely edited his work in vastly inferior ways and the other translations only go off of those later editions). I recommended it a long while ago, but I still stand by it. It's my all time favorite book and I truly believe it is the hallmark of late 19th early 20th century Russian lit.

[@fernyhough100]

love it mate, another brilliantly articulate take in a book I'd imagine very few people have read. Also a massive fan of "angel heart" so I'm fascinated by voodoo and will be giving this a read one hundo. Hope all is well at your end.

[@rodneyshackelford7529]

Great review. Mans Search for Meaning is worth reading. I expect you have aleady done so.

[@pauldi7268]

His book about the amazon, " one river" is also excellent!

[@lorenkilldeer8218]

As I heard, I might me wrong, voodoo (vodou) dolls came much after, mostly as voodoo parafernalia, and people started buying them like it were an illegal thing. So, that's it. Mostly a touristic thing.

[@sheamcc2]

other than going mad with loneliness I'm pretty good also some of the books you recommended were solid got grate enjoyment out of it just curious how much books do you read at once

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

As many as time permits, thanks for watching

[@sheamcc2]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews cool it was getting intimidating for a while sorry for being sad love the stuff

[@sheamcc2]

also cheek out frankinstine captures the loneliness of going out in the world with no goal

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

classic

[@TheClebes]

I love Maya Deren! Great director...

[@PaperBird]

fascinating stuff! time to get lost in Wikipedia now

[@hickorydcorry]

If you're looking for videos on spiritual transcendence check out lectures/interviews by grant morrison, you needn't agree with the content necessarily but his delivery is top-notch, the man really embodies the mythos of 80s and 90's subculture. As for recommendations on how the videos are done, it'd be nice if you could shoot more footage of nature, like the opening of your 'underworld' review in the desert. Cheers for the vid Cliff!

[@matthewaldous7]

I LOVE IT!

[@未知-w8j]

btw have you read Chariots of the Gods? by Erich von Däniken if you did, what you think about it??

[@frankietaylor342]

Hi Cliff! Great review, insightful and entertaining. I just thought I'd offer a different perspective on your comments on the Haitian Revolution. Toussaint decided to fight for the French as they had promised the abolition of slavery if he helped to defeat the Spanish, and his decision to maintain the plantation system was in part an attempt to legitimise the abolition of slavery in the island. If other nations saw that Haiti had abolished slavery but still maintain its economic output then they would see that the abolition of slavery was possible in terms of maintains their own economic strength. Obviously these leaders had huge flaws and the revolution was a brutal period, I just thought I'd offer some different viewpoints on those claims. P.s. I would recommend checking out The Black Jacobins by CLR James if you're interested in the Haitian Revolution. Keep up the great work!

[@DanteZzZ]

Great stuff. When I was watching Carpenters movie that goes by the same title I had no idea it is based on the true events. Does the book also deal with Haitian deities such as Legba and Veves?

[@mayorofrlyeh8042]

The movie wasn't done by John Carpenter. It was Wes Craven of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" fame.

[@Bdaug100]

Just for future reference an Ethnobotanist is a Anthropologist mixed with a Botanist. So, calling him an Anthropologist and Ethnobotanist is a little redundant. Great Video though, I love the passion you have for reading!

[@UAreArt]

This was a great and very informative video. Thank you for sharing 🖤

[@neighborhoodthreat9672]

wouls you consider reviewing something by denis johnson, considering he passed away? I know you will love his poems and novels. specifically Jesus Son and Train Dreams

[@lareinathelassa]

Sounds fascinating, somewhat reminds me of Heart of Darkness.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yasmine Bakri Definitely up that river. Thanks for watching

[@NorthWoodsAmbient]

"Up that river..." I see what you did there.

[@lareinathelassa]

I was going to say something about that hahaha

[@anav7745]

sounds super cool. I'll get on it soon. also, cool new setting! ceaoo. P.S. I'm building a small collection based on your recommendations. keep em coming

[@danielwhite1233]

Yo Cliff, if you haven't already you should definitely check out Hitler's table talks and Thus spoke Zarathustra, would love to see that dissected.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Nietzsche coming as soon as humanly (all too humanly) possible.

[@franciscofalabella4644]

Amazing review man, as always

[@TheDndemon]

Nice new setup!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

D Massa Just temporary - compensation for a cottage overrun by termites and lizards, no joke.

[@martinhall932]

"The foundation of this religion is the drum rhythm. Nothing commands a physical reaction quite like drumming. And nothing hurls your body into a different state quite like intense physical activity." This strikes a cord with my opinion that rhythm is an essential factor - let's say a pertetuator (my word) of energy - in all levels of life, from chemical reaction to planetary movement. It's no wonder it has a powerful effect on the human psyche and anatomical performance. Even the expression "strikes a cord" is a reference to rhythmic phenomenon.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Martin Hall totally!!!

[@evanprice2737]

I don't have much knowledge of Haiti (which you've inspired me to change). I had met a man from Haiti, and due to my past viewings of democracy now, I asked him about his ideas of Aristide. I had heard he was removed from power through a secret coup brought on by the U.S. He told me that Aristide was an evil man. That as president of Haiti he had sacrificed the first born son of the new year, to assert or possibly facilitate his power over Haiti. If this account is true or simply a made up rumour, I feel that it is relevant to the subject.

[@dremaboy777]

Thanks for that.

[@catholicgirl1758]

Excellent review!!! The movie version of the book was highly fictionalized but creepy!!!

[@evanprice2737]

the book criticizes how entertainment has worked to obfuscate haitian culture. conjectures the book tries to put to rest, the movie reawakens. it seems wes craven read a portion of the book and decided it was enough to stir his imagination to form a movie. it is cliché to say the book is better, but usually the movie doesn't work against precisely what the book seeks to achieve, as it does in this case.

[@romanlp1275]

greetings from Germany!!! :-)

[@sneedle252]

Recommending Decline of the West by Oswald Spengler.

[@andreasmoll_0924]

Better in the rainbow then and the rainbow.

[@timetoread1795]

Well, you got me!

[@CorbCorbin]

Nice review.

[@MiguelHernandez-ui8cd]

Eroticism by Bataille! Review more Bataille! PLZ

[@bipedofthecentury9956]

What is your job?

[@Echovoid52]

Dude, I love you, but can you please make your film channel public again? There were some great reviews there that I wouldn't mind revisiting.

[@Lucols4]

Toussssaaaaint.... L'ouveeeertuuuuuuure!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

There it is - was waiting for that one ;)

[@pinkzeppelintheater]

Amour es sangre!

[@bobbyboljaar7513]

I also can't read/hear that name without Michael Gira shouting it in my head.

[@palodine1]

Swans!!!

[@bryanstark324]

You should give your soul to them maybe then you will find out what's really all about.

[@VHS_NEON]

You should read Atlas Shruged by Ayn Rand

[@williamrobinson6059]

The Black Day uhhhhhh

[@VHS_NEON]

Its a very good book and i would love to see a review of it on this chanel.

[@VHS_NEON]

That´s true. But i think Atlas Shrugged was more about showing her philosophy than character development. Still, both are really good.

[@cloedoso3724]

The Black Day ayn rand is not better than food

[@VHS_NEON]

She is 100% better than food.

[@bobsbigboy_]

everytime i watch you, you make me want to read cliff :)