Kava in Literature - Nonfiction/Fiction/Anthropology/Other

[Kojo Douglas]

It would be great to put together a good bibliography (non-botanical) of books where Kava is mentioned. On the shout outs @verticity mentioned a book where Oliver Sacks discussed Kava. I think most of us know J. Marteen Troost's "Getting Stoned With Savages," which talks quite extensively about Kava. His accounts seem a bit suspicious and overcooked to me, but it's still a fun read.

Any other books where Kava plays a major role? It makes some appearances in Paul Theroux's "Paddling the Pacific" and "Hotel Honolulu," but nothing too eye-opening there.

 

[kavadude]

I'll add it to my bibliography here https://kavachat.com/research/ along with a books tag if people give me the name and year. Right now it's only research papers but there's no reason I can't add books as well.

 

[Kojo Douglas]

Yeah, those scientific reports can be a bit intimidating. I mean, I have a Master's Degree and some of that stuff just flies right over my head. Then again, I'm a social scientist.

 

[Alia]

It would be great to put together a good bibliography (non-botanical) of books where Kava is mentioned. On the shout outs @verticity mentioned a book where Oliver Sacks discussed Kava. I think most of us know J. Marteen Troost's "Getting Stoned With Savages," which talks quite extensively about Kava. His accounts seem a bit suspicious and overcooked to me, but it's still a fun read.

Any other books where Kava plays a major role? It makes some appearances in Paul Theroux's "Paddling the Pacific" and "Hotel Honolulu," but nothing too eye-opening there.

Not sure if you saw/read the small essay I wrote - Shadows and Tradition- In Depth section . That Chapter has wonderful descriptions about kava. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Best if you can get the Kindle (should be free) and read the chapter 14.

 

[verticity]

This is the book by Oliver Sacks where he tried kava in Pohnpei:
Amazon productThe book is mostly about an island where most of the residents are colorblind, but the kava episode is interesting. It is where I first learned about kava, actually.
EDIT: The original publication date was 1997

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

I've always loved this piece from "White Shadows in the South Seas", especially when it starts describing the actual kava experience, I've posted it before:

http://kavaforums.com/forum/threads/big-pimpin-kava-style.3787/#post-42414


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[Alia]

I've always loved this piece from "White Shadows in the South Seas", especially when it starts describing the actual kava experience, I've posted it before:

http://kavaforums.com/forum/threads/big-pimpin-kava-style.3787/#post-42414


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Excellent, sorry I did not know, so glad others appreciate it too. Thank you.

 

[nabanga]

Its in French, but Vincent Lebot released a fat coffee table book on kava "Buveurs de Kava" in mid 2014. Over 300 glossy pages.
It does have a bit of botanical content but also a lot of history & ceremony and loads of photos for those that don't read french.

Another good one that is always on abebooks.com is Tom Harrisson's "Savage Civilisation" about the 1930's Cambridge University trip to Malekula. Many of the older books on Vanuatu are hard to read (especially the 1800's missionary ones) but this one is a good read, includes kava descriptions, and can be had for about $30.
Also "Stone Men of Malekula" by John Layard - hard to find but excellent - lots of kava ritual described from Vao in the 1930's-40's..

@kavadude, @Kavasseur - I have a 20 year collection of Pacific books, a few hundred, many antique, and whilst they are all in storage in NZ, I have a title list here. I can send you the ones that mention kava for your list if you like

 

[Kojo Douglas]

Not sure if you saw/read the small essay I wrote - Shadows and Tradition- In Depth section . That Chapter has wonderful descriptions about kava. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Best if you can get the Kindle (should be free) and read the chapter 14.

Where can I find this?

 

[Alia]

Where can I find this?

My Essay is in the "In Depth" Discussion section of these forums. Shakas link will take you to the Chapter from the original book .

 

[kastom_lif]

Anyone know where I can get a copy of "Buveurs de Kava" in the states?

 

[verticity]

Anyone know where I can get a copy of "Buveurs de Kava" in the states?

http://geoconsulte.unblog.fr/
I assume they would ship to the US.

 

[verticity]

Anyone know where I can get a copy of "Buveurs de Kava" in the states?

I'm still waiting for @Henry to publish the English translation.

 

[Jana]

I found something interesting. Apparently there is a man named Y. N. (Yadhu Nand)
Singh that published a book called Kava: A Bibliography. It supposedly consists of 800 entries. It was published in 1986. I wonder what's in it? I might have to get a copy just to satisfy personal curiosity. Has anyone here seen/read it??

 

[Alia]

I found something interesting. Apparently there is a man named Y. N. (Yadhu Nand)
Singh that published a book called Kava: A Bibliography. It supposedly consists of 800 entries. It was published in 1986. I wonder what's in it? I might have to get a copy just to satisfy personal curiosity. Has anyone here seen/read it??

There is a lengthy Kava devoted edition of "Herbalgram" magazine Spring 1997 # 39 which Yadhu Singh wrote- Kava, An Overview. Not the 800 page Bibliography, but still interesting and many photos. I do not know if they sell back issues but I'll try and find out.

 

[Alia]

It would be great to put together a good bibliography (non-botanical) of books where Kava is mentioned. On the shout outs @verticity mentioned a book where Oliver Sacks discussed Kava. I think most of us know J. Marteen Troost's "Getting Stoned With Savages," which talks quite extensively about Kava. His accounts seem a bit suspicious and overcooked to me, but it's still a fun read.

Any other books where Kava plays a major role? It makes some appearances in Paul Theroux's "Paddling the Pacific" and "Hotel Honolulu," but nothing too eye-opening there.

Has anyone listed these? Besides me, that is...
-- Chris Kilham's book- Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise (Park Street Press) and his- Tales from the Medicine Trail (Rodale Books) a section is devoted to 'awa hunting here in Hawaii

 

[nabanga]

Another is Maggie Greenwoods-Robinson's book "Kava"........but it very much from a new-agey herbal supplement point of view rather than a cultural/anthropological one.

"The tree and the canoe" by Bonnemaison in a great book on historical Tanna that has a good amount of kava culture described - published by Uni of Hawaii.

 

[kastom_lif]

I'm still waiting for @Henry to publish the English translation.

Bae mi kam glad sapos ikat wan version blo bislama. French... well there's always Google translate, lol.

 

[Kojo Douglas]

Anyone else have a grudge against the way Kava is portrayed in "Getting Stoned With Savages?" I think the author makes it sound way more powerful (in a bad way) than it really is.

 

[verticity]

Bae mi kam glad sapos ikat wan version blo bislama. French... well there's always Google translate, lol.

No Google Translate for Bislama, unfortunately... I don't know if there is an electronic version of the book. I don't think so.