Off the Map

by Chellis Glendinning

Imperialism. It has been the dominant and dominating political force on planet Earth for centuries—from the age of the great European empires to our own era of giant corporate takeovers. Its influence is felt in every area of our lives, from the global to the deeply personal. In this book, Chellis Glendinning charts the course of empire across countries and continents and on into individual minds, hearts, and bodies—and it all happens within the story of her horseback ride through the wilds of New Mexico with her friend the Indo-Hispano vaquero, Snowflake Martinez. As their dreamlike journey unfolds, Chellis and Snowflake strive to understand the results of their ancestors' fatal encounter—hers, the "people of empire"; his, "the colonized"—weaving together current events with their childhood memories and the forces of history to reveal extent of imperialism's legacy— and to find a way "off the map," to a more hopeful future for us all.

Genres: Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published September 28, 1999

Reviews

[Mark Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I journeyed with Glendinning into regions that I am not sure I comprehend but I know I certainly respect. I have never been traumatized like she has in her personal history yet I know enough of hate and power to empathize with her account of sexual conquest. Her first person account of being raped by her father is poignant to say the least and it gripped my being to the core--How could a father act so? She uses rape as a personal metaphor of how nation-states and multinational corporations "penetrate" into new markets and the connection gets established.

Also, I traveled with her off the map to a region of indigenous pride in which she journeyed with her guide to a meeting with others who collectively work out a plan of protest against the BLM or the latest hegemonic force of Empire. I respect Glendinning's handling of this real-life connection with Snowflake Martinez as a way to bridge between the two cultures: Anglo and Hispanic. It reminds me of the same narrative technique that Ivan Doig used in his memoir/biography, Winter Brothers. Travelling with Snowflake becomes a mentor/mentee journey (Jim/Huck?) in which two cultures get to be bridged and mutual understanding becomes the reward.

The most important pages of this biography/memoir/essay/social critique came in the final 30 pages. Glendinning writes in eloquent language, re-inforcing themes that she has already established, and underscored the message that we are in too deep with this hegemony thing. We have only a few more moments in which to escape and it is up to us to provide a better solution. The final pages were worth the entire book, but of course, she set this up to be so. I thoroughly respect and admire this short book about the West, about Empire, about Power.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful delving into empire--the map of imperialism/colonialism and how it affects those a part of the invaders and those they oppress. Personal, political, and engaging. You. Read. Now.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and poetic critique of technology and industrial society.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels a bit dated now, though it’s not yet a decade old. Or perhaps I’ve outgrown this style of book: a little too obvious, a little too strident. Still, Glendinning does her thing quite well. The narrative thread of the book, perhaps one third of the extended essay’s total length, takes place over just one day. As I was reading it, it made me realize that it’s an important model to me in one way: I need to learn to write more about less. Off the Map happens almost in real time, which is hardly ever good for a book, but in this case it works.

[Wes Hoskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Written in the postmodern style, but still very fresh and even inspiring considering the subject matter. It has very much changed the way I look at this consumer culture, in which we have no substantial ties to anything. Physically or cognitively.

[Ogross · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just wasn't interested enough in the author's self centered ramblings.