Tuiavii's Way : A South Sea Chief's Comments on Western Society

By Erich Scheurmann and Touiavii de Tiavéa

Tuiavii, a wise Indian chief of the Samoa Islands, traveled to Europe at the beginning of the century, coming into contact with the customs and traditions of the "Papalagi", the white man. He drew... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0968246907
• ISBN13: 9780968246900
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Legacy Editions
• Length: 185 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Need to wake up and smell the coffee?

Cavelti's work here on Tuivaii's messages is nothing short of a backdrop for our own personal opportunity to "wake up and smell the coffee". Perhaps for those of us in our mid 40's it is a wonderful chance to evaluate who we really are, want to be, can be and/or don't want to become. Tuivaii's messages are really nothing so extraordinary other than simple truths and observations. Things that get harder and harder to do in our hectic lives. I was fortunate enough to go trekking with Peter in Bhutan and got to know he and his wife as very special people. Not caught in the trappings of those of us with "city lives" they embodied a peace and spirit not often found. Peter gave me this book as a special gift after our many conversations about my frustrations with work life and the lack of harmony around time, things, and relationships. Peter and Carol are a living example that what Tuivaii has to teach can change lives. I'm working on it bit by bit, and have begun to read this book nightly before bed. I know it sounds hokey, but this work really IS cathartic. Not many books can arrest your attention with such clarity. Peter has done an excellent job with Tuivaii's thoughts and observations, and I would recommend this book to anyone. Especially the chapter on what is "time".

Anyone interested in people will love this book!

Cavelti must be a genius of some kind. I see he's a banker and an expert on precious metals. How then could he write such an amazingly insightful translation of Tuiavii's words. Peter doesn't merely translate words (which would loose a lot of subtlety) he gets inside of the chief's mind and translates with wondrous empathy. I feel like I know this great Chief and I really understand his point of view. This is a serious book that is chock full of natural humor. I read it in spurts during my busy day and it actually gave me a new perspective on who we are today. I spent some time in the south pacific on an island populated only by natives. I befriended one named TuWakki and he, much like Tuiavii, had a sharp, innocent wisdom about him. I found myself loosing interest in material things after only a week with TuWakki. A month later I had lost all interest in returning to the harsh life of civilization. So yes, Tuiavii's words ring true and clear and Peter Cavelti is a wonderful writer. Buy this book even if you don't think it's for you...You'll love it. -P-

The Best Book of Counter-Civilization Ever

How often do you have chance see yourself from the eyes of a stranger? Further more, how often does this civilization have chance to be evaluated by outsiders? Not so often, perhaps never. It is always the case that we study those outsiders, namely the "uncivilized", and we have never been studied by the "uncivilized". Well, when we are subjected to be studied by those people, the result is this book. Tuiavii -the chief of Tiavea village in Uporu island, Polynesia - nails down the deception of the civilization we believe in. His observations and considerations cover cloths, town, money, time, people, mass media, thoughts, material stuff, machine and technology, etc. The content of this book is in a sense, anthropology and we, the "civilized", are the subject. In this book, he successfully turns the table against us and points out how we are really confused in the civilized society. He, however, didn't have any intention to share his idea with the civilized. It was Scheurmann's responsibility. Tuiavii's purpose was to warn other people in Polynesia by propagating his thought, so they wouldn't be pulled in to the darkness of civilization. Although his speech was solely toward his people, his words cut right through the undercurrent of civilization supremacism in our minds and move our hearts. I've read many books, but this is the only book I remember that I was compelled to buy many copies and give to my friends. I have had searched for the English version of "Papalagi" for years. I really wanted to have my father and my friends read it. I read the Japanese version and thanks to the superlative translation, it made me feel as if Tuiavii was talking to me in person. Many felt in the same way I did, and so much so that it is still very popular in Japan (first published in '80). I even tried to translate it into English and failed. It was such a frustration to see the words died before me. Probably Scheurmann felt the same way when he translated this book as he mentions in the prologue of the original version. As for the validity of Tuiavii himself, some Japanese TV crew members for a quiz program went all the way to the island to find out if he was a real person. Unfortunately, I didn't see the program, but heard that they collected the story that there was a person from that village who went to Europe in early 20th century. By the way, according to this TV quiz, "Tuiavii" means "chief of village" in Polynesian. Peter Cavelti did a good job. Not only just realize the importance of this book and accurately translated into English word by word, he obtained the original German version and researched about Scheurmann himself. It must have come with some illustration/drowing in the original book. What did you do with it, Peter? It is also missing Scheurmann's prologue. Why?

Tuiavii's Way touches us today

In the early 100's, Chief Tuiavii intended these thoughts as a caution to Samoans against the encroachment of Western civilization. Yet his words reach across the waters and years as if intended today for me and my culture. How is it that his revelations make me happy to be alerted to what I am missing rather than sad over what I have lost? Tuiavii touches me with his simple, delightful language in a manner which reveals his own humanity as much as it does the truth. We owe Peter Cavelti our thanks for bringing Tuiavii's words into the English language. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone who would approach the future with insight and good humor.

Tuiavii's Way

Peter Cavelti's translation of Tuiavii's Way is a thought provoking and delightful read. Beautifully translated, it provides us with original pictures of our attitudes, activities and social temperments. Tuiavii's Way mirrors sometimes amusing, heartwarming, sad, startling but always unforgettable and profound images of man in the western world. Us! What a unique way to view ourselves. Dorothy Macina