--- product_id: 6821433 title: "The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle" price: "208.94 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 6 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6821433-the-spears-of-twilight-life-and-death-in-the-amazon store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle **Price:** 208.94 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle - **How much does it cost?** 208.94 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6821433-the-spears-of-twilight-life-and-death-in-the-amazon) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the desertcart Jungle [Descola, Philippe] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the desertcart Jungle Review: Five Stars - One of my very favorite books after 60 years of reading! Review: In-depth account of the Achuar - This is the definitive guide to the Achuar people. I read it in preparation for a trip to visit the Achuar for a week in a primitive village (not an ecolodge). In the book, Descola explains in detail everything he learned while living with the Achuar. The information presented is extensive and awesome, but it was a very slow read for me, hence 4 stars instead of 5. I'm currently halfway through "The Achuar of the Paztaza: A Glimpse into Their Rainforest World" by Mowczko. It's at the other end of the spectrum in terms of material and writing style. If you're looking for a lightweight overview, this is it. If you want to thoroughly learn about the Achuar and their beliefs, Descola's book is a necessity. Another book that I'm enjoying is "The Mapmaker's Wife" by Whitaker. It's mostly about colonial Ecuador, but the characters cross over the Andes and make their way thru Achuar territory on their journeys to the desertcart. It's an excellent book. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #3,186,030 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1,568 in South American History (Books) #4,200 in General Anthropology #5,170 in Travel Writing Reference | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (9) | | Dimensions | 6.21 x 1.32 x 9.33 inches | | ISBN-10 | 1565844386 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1565844384 | | Item Weight | 1.55 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 464 pages | | Publication date | April 1, 1998 | | Publisher | New Press, The | ## Images ![The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71TSVSpVLLL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars *by D***R on July 28, 2018* One of my very favorite books after 60 years of reading! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ In-depth account of the Achuar *by T***P on April 17, 2015* This is the definitive guide to the Achuar people. I read it in preparation for a trip to visit the Achuar for a week in a primitive village (not an ecolodge). In the book, Descola explains in detail everything he learned while living with the Achuar. The information presented is extensive and awesome, but it was a very slow read for me, hence 4 stars instead of 5. I'm currently halfway through "The Achuar of the Paztaza: A Glimpse into Their Rainforest World" by Mowczko. It's at the other end of the spectrum in terms of material and writing style. If you're looking for a lightweight overview, this is it. If you want to thoroughly learn about the Achuar and their beliefs, Descola's book is a necessity. Another book that I'm enjoying is "The Mapmaker's Wife" by Whitaker. It's mostly about colonial Ecuador, but the characters cross over the Andes and make their way thru Achuar territory on their journeys to the Amazon. It's an excellent book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Knowing your neighbours *by S***S on November 18, 2002* Descola's sojourn in the Upper Amazon jungles reminds us of a sad truth: how much of our neighbours on this planet do we know or understand? Descola readily admits how poorly prepared he was for the study of the Achuar. Yet he was quickly disabused of any idea that this group of the "Jivaro" constituted a "simple native" community. His account shows the complexity of life they endure. Family relationships entwine political situations and Achuar society is sustained by a fine balance among many forces. Not the least of these are the roles played by every plant and animal in the surrounding forest. Each Achuar individual carries immense knowledge of his or her surroundings and performs daily activities within carefully prescribed limits. Living in an Ecuadorian forest is no more complex than dwelling in a "civilized" city in Descola's view. It's simply a matter of learning how. Descola quickly settled in as guest of a family - unravelling the roots of interaction among its members took longer. Men's and women's lives follow preset roles, however the balance of power between genders, he shows us, must be constantly adjusted to changing circumstances. Marriages and separations are frequent, sometimes leading to long-standing vendettas, complicated by the relationships of the participants which are as twisted as the forest vines. Vendetta, it seems, is far more consequential in the lives of the Achuar than long-term traditions. The stereotypical "tradition bound" native is nonexistent here. Family and personal relationships also preclude the development of our familiar hierarchical society. No community leaders rise to particular prominence since family status has priority. These conditions, Descola points out, obviate the existence of political hierarchies, so dear to Western society. Life among the Achuar is filled with rituals, from the morning cup of "wayus" through various rites of passage to, possibly, the achievement of "juunt," or "Great Man" status. Anthropology is rife with tales of powerful shamans who guide the behaviour of awed villagers. Descolas sweeps away this image, noting that shamans among the Achuar may be exiled or deposed, perhaps even killed if their powers prove futile, misleading or faulty. To be effective, the juunt must prove his abilities as a healer - a sorcerer will be rejected. Although the position of juunt takes years of effort to achieve, the role may be lost overnight. On the other hand, they are resourceful and caring - they make house calls. Sometimes at great distance, leading them to temporarily profess conversion to Christianity long enough to hitch a ride on the missionary's aircraft to the patient. Descola's narrative is nearly a daily journal of his own learning and efforts. Although his wife Anne Christine accompanied him, she flits but wraith-like through these pages, nearly obscured by Descola's own revelations. Yet it's clear she provided information on the women's lives that might have endangered Descola had he attempted to garner it. Given the intricate structure of Achuar life, Descola may be forgiven this omission of detail. Janet Lloyd's translation isn't lively, but the events and ideas Descola relates keep the reader's interest throughout the book. He manages to both dismiss faulty myths about South American peoples and impart a wealth of new information. Dreams, for example, considered random in the West, may actually be "created" among the Achuar depending on circumstances and needs. Dreams drive behaviour and vice versa. Descola sees Achuar dreaming as an extension of conscious thought - an assertion deserving intense study. This is but one example of what keeps this book interesting and valuable. ## Frequently Bought Together - Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle - Beyond Nature and Culture --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6821433-the-spears-of-twilight-life-and-death-in-the-amazon](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6821433-the-spears-of-twilight-life-and-death-in-the-amazon) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-10-11*