The Pastoral Clinic

Possibly one of the best ethnographies I've ever read? Is that too much praise? I think not. In terms of academic books Garcia does a good job of balancing theory vs. stories. A good ethnography proves it's point by showing not by telling you through obtuse, theoretical, academic language. Garcia undoubtedly shows us the impact of colonialism.

I simply cannot overstate how heavy and important the subject matter of this book is. We are a colonial society and to think that period of history is over and done with is bullshit. It's alive and well here in 2020, and as told in The Pastoral Clinic it is DEEPLY entwined with heroin addiction in New Mexico.