The Serpent and the Rainbow: A
Harvard Scientists Astonishing
Journey into the Secret Societies of
Haitian Voodoo, Zombis, and Magic
by Wade Davis
A Thriller In Real Life
Reissued to coincide with the release of One River--a chronicle of Davis
exploration of the Amazon rain forest--The Serpent and the Rainbow
presents the authors account of his venture into the heart of Haiti, on a
search for a powerful sedative--a zombie drug. Exotic and far-reaching.--
The Wall Street Journal.
Personal Review: The Serpent and the Rainbow: A Harvard
Scientists Astonishing Journey into the Secret Societies of
Haitian Voodoo, Zombis, and Magic by Wade Davis

So, what does sashimi and zombies have in common? More than you
ever expected.
I don't want to give too much away, but I highly recommend that anyone
interested in science, history, or religion read this amazing true book about
an ethnobotanist's search for a drug that is used in Haiti to turn people into
zombies.
Like most of you reading this review, when the author Wade Davis first
began his quest, he did not believe that people buried could be brought
back to life. Through an intricate network of connections, Davis is able to
meet the people who hold the secret to the drug that lowers a person's
metabolic rate to an imperceptible level. Once the person is mistakenly
thought dead, they are buried and then later on excavated from the grave.
If the drug worked properly, the person has lost some brain function, but
has sustained no physical damage. Davis describes accounts of people
who were made into zombies and then made to work as slaves under the
control of zombie masters in places far from their homes. They are
considered dead.
Even more amazing than the description of the drug is Davis' description of
the secret socities that are an intricate part of Haitian religion and de facto
legal system. Zombification is actually a punishment meted out to those
who have been deemed to violate certains societal rules. This book also
provides historical background on Haiti. The more I learned about Haitian
history, the more I began to understand the history of the United States,
especially in terms of slavery and our relationship with the French. Just
read it! The more you learn,the more you will want to know. Because I
teach so many Haitian children, I feel even more obligated to understand
the country's history and society. Many of the Haitian people I know are
very religious (usually Christian) and the spiritual nature of the Haitian
people is palpable in the book. This book helps you glimpse the African
roots of the spirituality and brings out an admiration for people who believe
so deeply.
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