parisfba09's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
"having said sorry we refuse to say thanks"
this was a really philosophical and informative read that had me near tears by the last chapter. very moving
this was a really philosophical and informative read that had me near tears by the last chapter. very moving
jimb's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Excellent, very interesting and hopeful
alyskarstark's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
Listened to the audiobook, read by the author.
lookpook's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
jadeneedy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
tevreads's review against another edition
4.0
Dark Emu is a telling work of non-fiction by Indigenous Australian Bruce Pascoe on the complexities of Aboriginal agriculture. Pascoe reevaluates the commonly held label of hunter-gatherer in a a structured look of the complexities of life that has existed in Australia for centuries. This analysis is scientific, archaeological, and even observed in first-hand account of colonisers who thought of these traditional owners as nothing more than savages.
_________
Evidence of fish traps over 40,000 years old, intricate artwork and housing 20,000-30,000 years old, Pascoe astounds the reader with how advanced Aboriginal Australians were. Systems of irrigation, back-burning, and cultivation of grains such as yam that can flourish under harsh Australian conditions is fascinating. As one academic is quoted in this book, I was also shamed by the poverty of my expectations.
_________
What makes this book so powerful is Pascoe’s intelligence and attempts at objectivity when describing the horrific degradation of land and people at the hands of Western colonisers. Instead, Pascoe points to the potential of providing Aboriginal Australians with their previous livelihoods, entrepreneurs working with the traditional owners of the land to cultivate local grasses, divers working together to harvest and maintain strict conservation of abalones as the Indigenous have done for centuries. Dark Emu is an important book in modern Australian history that demands reading.
_________
Evidence of fish traps over 40,000 years old, intricate artwork and housing 20,000-30,000 years old, Pascoe astounds the reader with how advanced Aboriginal Australians were. Systems of irrigation, back-burning, and cultivation of grains such as yam that can flourish under harsh Australian conditions is fascinating. As one academic is quoted in this book, I was also shamed by the poverty of my expectations.
_________
What makes this book so powerful is Pascoe’s intelligence and attempts at objectivity when describing the horrific degradation of land and people at the hands of Western colonisers. Instead, Pascoe points to the potential of providing Aboriginal Australians with their previous livelihoods, entrepreneurs working with the traditional owners of the land to cultivate local grasses, divers working together to harvest and maintain strict conservation of abalones as the Indigenous have done for centuries. Dark Emu is an important book in modern Australian history that demands reading.
damopedro's review against another edition
4.0
Very educational and interesting book challenging us to rethink the idea of the aboriginal as a hunter gatherer. It made me want to try the food he mentioned such at the yam and the bread made from kangaroo grass.