Customer Reviews
The Rastafarians - By: Guntars Reboks, 15 Jan 2008 
I find this Book very interesting because this is not just a field research in anthropology, there are included events from the time when the books author was in Jamaica. There are interviews with rastas, poetry of rastas. This Book also gives an introduction into History of Jamaica.
I think this Book will bee very useful for thous who want to know more about rastafari. Also for thous who study religion,politics,culture...
a great book - By: Matthias Runar, 31 Oct 2007 This book made me a lot more intrigued by the Rastafarian religion & Reggae culture than I was before I read it. Today my interest in the subject has grown to a great extent & that's, for the most part, alll thanks to this book. It is informative & a good read.
Academic's insightful book - By: CHARLES W SKINNER, 17 Jun 2003 
Great, very readable introduction to the subject of Rastafari. Takes you way beyond the music & the clichés, puts it in the wider context: sociology, history, economics & cultural identity alll come into play here.
Barrett looks at the theme of Rastafari as an outsider, an academic, rather than someone already "converted". As a result his study comes across as more objective & carries more weight than much other writing on the rastafarians, which can feel sycophantic & a little irksome.
Having said that, the author does come out strongly in favour of the movement- but you feel it's a fair assessment, the product of a great deal of bona fide study.
VERY INFORMATIVE - By: , 07 Mar 1998 As a friend of Jamaica, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Rastas or Jamaican history. You will definitely know much about the Rastas after reading this one.
FANTASTIC!!! A must read for any seeker of truth and life. - By: , 20 Aug 1997 Leonard Barrett has created one of the finest peices of literature on the subject of Rastafari. The history of Jamaica's social & economic struggles, religions, music, & people are written beautifully & are intertwined, so that the reader may see & understand the reasons behind the purpose & beliefs of the Rastafari. As a student of world religions, I recommend this book to any person interested in history, social sciences, anthropolgy, music, or any other aspect of life. Hooray! & Thank you Mr. Barrett for a beautifully written piece of world history & life.
