My Father's Wars: Migration, Memory, and the Violence of a Century

by Alisse Waterston

* Winner: International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, Outstanding Book Award 2016 * My Father’s Wars is an anthropologist's vivid account of her father's journey across continents, countries, cultures, generations, and wars. It is a daughter's moving portrait of a charming, funny, wounded and difficult man. And it is a scholar's reflection on the dramatic forces of history, the experience of exile and immigration, the legacies of culture, and the enduring power of memory. This book is for Anthropology and Sociology courses in qualitative methods, ethnography, violence, migration, and ethnicity.

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2013

Reviews

[Frankie Boyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly intimate ethnography exploring themes of family, identity, history, migration, and so much more. Waterston uses her own father’s life to examine the importance of not only remembering history, but of carrying the lessons it teaches with us. A reminder of the complexity and diversity of humans, it’s an important and impactful read.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a very interesting ethnography interwoven with historical contexts, though at times the structuring is a little messy or chaotic. Often reads like it's trying to hit the bullet points in a cultural anthropology class but still has notable allusions and commentary.