Sidney W. Mintz humanizes the 'cane worker' in this vibrant ethnography in which he combines knowledge gained during a formal research period ('48 - '49) with the autobiography of his key informant, Taso (Anastacio {Eustaquio} Zayas Alvarado).

The critical core of this ethnography, the autobiography, was an afterthought. Shortly after the conclusion of his field work with Mintz, Taso joined the Pentacostal Church. Mintz was astonished and perplexed by Taso's decision since he thought he knew Taso and viewed him as a practical, intelligent man not vulnerable to seemingly irrational and spontaneous life choices.

Mintz returned to P.R. in 1953 to unearth the reasoning underlying the conversion and in the course of his search (lucky for us) he assembled Taso's autobiography. Taso's life story is interwoven with Mintz's personal observations of Taso, interviews with Taso's wife, Elí (Elisabeth Villaronga Colón de Zayas) and Mintz's commentaries based on information gathered during the '48 -'49 research period. The combination of autobiography and ethnography brings Taso, his family and the neighboring Juaqueños to life. These are warm bodied human beings we can care about, not the deadwood of the traditional ethnography.

May 22, 2000

Mintz's book is a bit hard to understand because he approaches the history of sugar from an intensely anthropological perspective. Basically, he studies the meaning associated with sugar (especially in England) during its centuries-long journey across time and economic class. Sugar began as an upper-class commodity. To have sugar displayed one's wealth and status. It was even endowed with magical and medicinal properties. Through colonialism, however, sugar was supplied to England cheaply and it became an daily part of the lower class English diet. It lost its high-status connotations and became a common day product. Mintz also studies the meanings sugar had in literature and speech, and even its effects today. This book is a worthwhile endeavor, and for anthropology, actually almost a fun read.

I found this book very interesting as I read it for a development anthropology class. Mintz gives a detailed and informative history of the development of sugar as a commodity from the colonial age to the present. Coming from an anthropological point of view, he examines the cultural impact of sugar production on the Carribean nations that produce it. He also displays how British organization of the industry in their colonies created an increasing demand for sugar.

I read this book for an economic anthropology class. I thought it gave an excellent anthropological perspective on how sugar changed history. Mintz makes some striking points on the influence of slavery on the development of capitalism, as well as drawing a parallel between the sugar plantations in the Carribean and the capitalist, industrial factories that developed shortly after. The book is packed with historical information, overall a really informative read.

Ka has put together a solid economic history that sheds light on the nature of Japanese colonial agricultural policy in Taiwan, and the reaction of the Taiwanese people. As a non-academic I still found this book interesting and very readable, but this is an academic work and not necessarily a great beach read. All in all, for those interested in colonialism, economic history, or East Asian history in general, I would recommend this work as a solid addition to your library.