This book raises very deep questions about civilisation vs. nature. As human impact on the planet has now reached a point of no return, we should start thinking of adopting at least some elements of the Yahi way of life in our own lives. "To leave no trace" was not just an important surviving technique to remain unnoticed by the ennemy (the "saldu's"), it seems to have been central to their philosophy of life.

Ishi was astonished to see how young white people could grow up without being shown what to do. An Indian mother used to teach her doughter all there is to know about food, herbs, medicine, storage, cloth making. Fathers used to teach their sons how to hunt.

That is another thing we could learn from their Way, but in our world family members have precious little time for each other. We are left to our own devices in the name of freedom.

This book shows how civilisation is making our lives poorer and poorer.

For Ishi it was the most natural thing to devout himself to teaching hunting skills and life philosophy, even to a complete stranger.

This book is a rough diamond. It tells us an unusual story, raw and beautiful. It leaves the grinding and polishing to us.