Ishi in Two Worlds

A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America

By: Theodora Kroeber, Karl Kroeber

Narrated by: Lorna Raver

The life story of Ishi, the last Yahi Indian, lone survivor of an exterminated tribe, is unique in the annals of North American anthropology. Ishi stumbled into the 20th century on the morning of August 29, 1911, when, desperate with hunger and terrified of the white murderers of his family, he was found in the corral of a slaughterhouse near Oroville, California. Finally identified as a Yahi by an anthropologist, Ishi was brought to San Francisco by Professor T. T. Waterman and lived there the rest of his life under the care and protection of Alfred Kroeber and the staff of the University of California's Museum of Anthropology.

©2002 Regents of the University of California (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Mrs. Kroeber...tells [Ishi's story] with an integrity and insight that raises it to the level of history that is also art." (Washington Post)

"This magnificent biography...shows man at his best." (San Francisco Examiner)

"One of the most moving, tragic and ultimately triumphant human stories I have ever read." (Los Angeles Times)

A one of a kind

What character,patience and humility a "civilized" society could learn from a "wild" man...
Thank you Ishi

Captivating story

Excellent biography on one of the most amazing people in North America. Only wish that there was more of this story to listen to.

Great narration, amazing story, beautiful person.

I have read much about Ishi, Arthur Young and Saxton Pope over the years and yet had no knowledge of this biography.

it is way less a biography than a true history class of the last decades of the natives in the American west.

I have learned much and enjoyed all the listenning. not a single borring chapter, all was interesting, to the point and yet complete and sensibly explained.

Great author, followed closely by the excelent narrator.

This is my first review on audible, after over 900h of content listened to (which I very much enjoyed), this is the best compliment I can give. Thank you.

Outstanding story

I really enjoyed learning about Ishi. I felt this book was less judgemental than I expected it to be (since its over 60 years old). I appreciated learning about Ishi in a way that seemed respectful to his culture and the trauma he must have endured. I wish we had video and more info about him and his people.

Sooo Interesting

I liked the story itself and the way it was presented. The narrator is horrible. It was like being lectured to by an 80 year-old schoolmarm. Such an annoying, sing song-y voice. I wish Audible would do a better job, selecting their narrators. After all, the main focus of their business is the Audible part of it.