Hopi

by Jake Page, Susanne Page

An exclusive insight into America's most traditional native tribe. For many centuries the Hopi people have preserved their traditional and very private way of life. But in 1974 Hopi elders, together with the Tribal Council, invited photographer Susanne Page and her husband, author Jake Page, to chronicle the world of the Hopi-which is usually closed to outsiders, and particularly to photographers. Since that unprecedented invitation, the pages have visited the Hopi land and people dozens of times and produced this beautifully illustrated and written book in 1982. Hailed as a masterpiece when first published, Hopi remains one 25 years later. It plays a powerful, respectful tribute to the spiritual life, the past and the present, the land, and the culture of the Hopi people. 130 color & b/w photos

Genres: Travel, History, Native American

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1982

About the author

Jake Page was a celebrated editor, science writer, and novelist who made complex topics accessible through wit and clarity. Though he never studied science formally, his role editing Natural History Books at Doubleday sparked a lifelong passion for explaining science to general readers. As science editor and columnist at Smithsonian magazine, he wrote with elegance and humor on a wide range of subjects, from aspirin to Zane Grey. Page authored dozens of books, including works on birds, earthquakes, and Native American history. His fascination with the American Southwest led to a mystery series featuring a blind sculptor-detective. Collaborating with his wife, photographer Susanne Anderson, he produced detailed cultural studies like Hopi and Navajo. His major nonfiction achievement, In the Hands of the Great Spirit, traces 20,000 years of American Indian history. Whether exploring anthropology or writing fiction, Page championed curiosity, clarity, and the belief that science was too important to remain only in expert hands.

Reviews

[Bk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billed as a sort of coffee table book that has rare photos from behind the scenes, the reason to buy this is really Jake Page's writing. Somehow managing to make even the most mundane activity captivating, the book explores just about every aspect of Hopi culture and life.

Sure, it's interesting to know that these are rare photos of a world that we are not likely, according to Jake, again see until 2070 or so. But I believe that the publishing company treated these photos with less respect than they deserve. Many of them were frustratingly grainy poorly reproduced prints. Others were given just a couple square inches of page real estate. The subject still comes through, but this isn't the kind of coffee table production that even high class cupcake photos get today.

The socially descriptive text, on the other hand, is engaging. I found the book hard to put down. Perhaps the only knock is that I wish that they had taken the effort to create an index. Otherwise you will find this to be a rare visit to the small Hopi community. I found the last chapter particularly exciting. We're surprisingly invited to join a rare tour of the Hopi borders. From hidden mountaintop shrines to an ancient western edge of the Hopi lands down in the grand canyon, it reminds us about the stories Mr.Page provides about the travels and settling of Hopi lands on the order of a thousand years ago.

[B.atz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billed as a sort of coffee table book that has rare photos from behind the scenes, the reason to buy this is really Jake Page's writing. Somehow managing to make even the most mundane activity captivating, the book explores just about every aspect of Hopi culture and life.

Sure, it's interesting to know that these are rare photos of a world that we are not likely, according to Jake, again see until 2070 or so. But I believe that the publishing company treated these photos with less respect than they deserve. Many of them were frustratingly grainy poorly reproduced prints. Others were given just a couple square inches of page real estate. The subject still comes through, but this isn't the kind of coffee table production that even high class cupcake photos get today.

The socially descriptive text, on the other hand, is engaging. I found the book hard to put down. Perhaps the only knock is that I wish that they had taken the effort to create an index. Otherwise you will find this to be a rare visit to the small Hopi community. I found the last chapter particularly exciting. We're surprisingly invited to join a rare tour of the Hopi borders. From hidden mountaintop shrines to an ancient western edge of the Hopi lands down in the grand canyon, it reminds us about the stories Mr.Page provides about the travels and settling of Hopi lands on the order of a thousand years ago.

[Tamara aka SoMysteriousLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some truly amazing pictures, and very informative. This is a lovely book that was well worth the afternoon I spent reading it.