Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes Book Summary

In 'Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes', Daniel L. Everett recounts his transformative journey as a linguist immersed in the Amazon rainforest with the Pirahã tribe. Struggling with their unique language and worldview, he uncovers profound insights about culture, belief, and communication. His experiences challenge conventional notions of language and cognitive science, as he finds a civilization that thrives without the concept of fixed past or future. This riveting memoir not only delves into the intricacies of language learning but also raises deep questions about our understanding of human nature. What happens when a scholar realizes that language—and life—can be defined in ways he never imagined?

By Daniel L. Everett

Published: 2009

"Language is a window into the soul of a culture, revealing not just how people communicate, but how they think, feel, and understand their world."

Book Review of Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes

Part passionate memoir, part scientific exploration, a life-changing tale set among a small tribe of Amazonian Indians in Brazil that offers a riveting look into the nature of language, thought, and life itself. "Immensely interesting and deeply moving.... One of the best books I have read."—Lucy Dodwell, New Scientist A riveting account of the astonishing experiences and discoveries made by linguist Daniel Everett while he lived with the Pirahã, a small tribe of Amazonian Indians in central Brazil. Daniel Everett arrived among the Pirahã with his wife and three young children hoping to convert the tribe to Christianity. Everett quickly became obsessed with their language and its cultural and linguistic implications. The Pirahã have no counting system, no fixed terms for color, no concept of war, and no personal property. Everett was so impressed with their peaceful way of life that he eventually lost faith in the God he'd hoped to introduce to them, and instead devoted his life to the science of linguistics.

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Language is a window into the soul of a culture, revealing not just how people communicate, but how they think, feel, and understand their world.

Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes

By Daniel L. Everett