Official Review: The Ragged Edge of the World

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Encounters at the frontier where modernity, wildlands and indigenous peoples meet
By: Eugene Linden

I am completely impressed with this well-written book reflecting on the sociological, environmental, and economical impact of different cultures in this world. In this captivating account, author Eugene Linden brings to light Vietnamese “fragging”, how early Europeans affected Tahitian culture, and the timelessness of Cuba, being in a 50-yr stalemate with the US.

Linden brought to light his time spent in Africa- kidnappings, how gorillas were protected in warfare, increased growth without development, and the striking commonalities between chimps and humans (ex. “chimp-raiding groups will hold an enemy chimp down while others try to rip him apart”...just like humans) and how one-third of chimps die at the hands of other chimps. As a chimp came up and sat quietly next to wildlife analyst Jane Goodall, it was comforting to see the moment of recognition with mutual respect, how it should be between humans and animals.

Linden also takes us through the frozen tundra of the Antarctica and the Arctic- how the melting ice affects young penguins, Canadian polar bear trash problems, and how a community of people survive in sub-below temps in the Arctic- living off of a bartering system in animal-skinned tents and valuing family, when Stalin’s prisoners had no chance of surviving the same landscape.

Linden widely discusses the trends in culture- wolves being reintroduced into Yellowstone and how that affects the ranchers, plus why people now visit Yellowstone to see the animal that was once demonized.

I also enduringly read about the albatross in the Midway atoll- how they continue to build their nests on the runways and deal with adversity, while Linden works with recent college graduates looking to protect them. One of my favorite quotes and gems from this book is, “One of the greatest compensations of teaching is the sheer surplus energy of intellectually curious young minds. Forget about elixirs and fountains of youth, the concentrated energy of the young- if they are engaged in something that excites them- is a proven tonic.”

Linden brings to light the “Eden” of Ndoki and working with the Pgymies in Africa, plus what unchartered terrain could mean for the future environment of the world. They “...described the crossing into the Ndoki as a trip back to the Pleistocene, a time before humanity began reshaping the planet to its short-term needs.” He also introduced us to the intriguing culture of the Pgymies and how they are masters of the rainforest; anyone is who is in their element.

Linden ends the book with how a shaman was the only one who could cure the microbe bug he picked up in Africa and how shamans are decreasing with the rise of learning Western ways rather than relying on the mysteriousness magic from the ancestors. The author relays measures on what is currently in process with the rainforests and offers his own additional solid ideas on how to protect them. I like his ending with a plan for fixing the problem and what they’re doing for the Congo, then prompting ideas from his readers. I also agree with his stance of just because you can’t explain it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Linden has National Geographic style prose- entertaining, simple yet detailed. This is an enlightening account of what’s really going on in the world.I give Ragged Edge of the World 4 out of 4 stars because even the acknowledgments were interesting.