Witch-Doctor’s Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell, Book Summary

How I Came to Learn about Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell

Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell is a non-fiction book that is quite interesting. It also reads like a story. Isn’t it a cool book title? Reading Witch-Doctor's Apprentice is one big lesson in cultural awareness. If you were to hazard a guess about what the book is about, how would you answer?  While you’re thinking, I’m going to tell you a short story. I know, I know that it’s ineffective to multitask. Anyway, do it this one time for me – please.

I have heard it said several times that people with a liberal arts education are more creative. So, I decided to test it for myself. I set out to work on a non-degree liberal arts education made up of primarily free online courses. Out of the 13 courses that I worked on, only one I paid for, “Books That Have Made History: Books That Can Change Your Life”. Some of the courses were semester length, while others were a few hours long, and others in between. One of the courses I took was Creative Reading led by William S Burroughs.

It was an audio course, where he discussed several must-read books from a variety of genres. One of the books he mentioned in the lecture at Naropa University, on August 13, 1979, is The Witch-Doctor's Apprentice. As an avid reader, I took lots of notes during the lecture because he mentioned so many books to read.

Since I took this course, I referred to my notes to remind myself of what Burroughs said about that specific book. Had I not taken the Creative Reading course, I would not have heard about Nicole Maxwell’s Witch-Doctor’s Apprentice.

Have you read?

William S Burroughs’ Book Recommendations- Books off the Beaten Path

Now you know how I learned about Witch-Doctor’s Apprentice. But you are probably curious about why I read it. In Month Four of the Read the World Extreme Challenge that I used to host, you were required to read a book from another industry. This is the book I chose to read.

Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell in a Nutshell

A large pharmaceutical company sends New Yorker, Nicole Maxwell, to the Amazon in South America to find medicinal plants. While there, she finds several good ones. One is a plant that acts as a contraceptive that lasts seven years. If during that period, the woman decides she wants to get pregnant, there is another plant that reverses the effects, so she is able to get pregnant. She also learns about plants that keep people slim, prevent tooth decay, and cure rheumatism.

Of course, Nicole Maxwell is excited about her discovery and carefully packages samples of the plants to take to the drug company that sponsored her trip. When she returns to New York, the pharmaceutical company doesn't use the plants. Unfortunately for the public, why would an organization in business to make money, want to produce a product that people would only buy once every seven years.

They already had one, the pill, that they sold every month. Obviously, if the pharma company used the plants that Maxwell found, they would have a windfall in the short-term. But profits would sharply decline in the longer term. Witch-Doctor’s Apprentice reminds us that oftentimes, big companies do not have a vested interest in what’s best for the public good.

A part of Witch-Doctor’s Apprentice is about how big pharma companies weren't interested in treatments that have less side effects, that cost much less. They really weren't interested in researching the medicinal plants. In fact, unknown to Nicole Maxwell at the time, the pharma company sent her to the Amazon as a publicity stunt to get media attention. And they got a lot of free publicity for their company. This was in the 1950s, and Maxwell was on the Today Show and a lot more media shows. People were very interested in what she had to say.

Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell: Lesson in Cultural Awareness

A big part of Witch-Doctor's Apprentice is the author's interaction with people in Bolivia, Peru and Colombia. The reader gets many lessons on how to interact with the natives. In the book, you see one instance where a South American refuses to sign-off on a deal because the other party did not inquire about his family before getting down to business.

I read Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell at the right time. While I was deep into the book, I started working on a project for an international trade organization, where I had to interview their Bolivian client. The knowledge I gained from Witch-Doctor's Apprentice helped me to interact effectively with the client. In the Western world, we have a tendency to get down to business right away. And I have been guilty of that offense.

The book provides profound lessons on cultural awareness and sensitivity. Because of how Nicole Maxwell treated the natives in South America, she got the opportunity to speak to a witch-doctor about medicinal plants. And that’s why she got the kind of access that most Westerners were unable to get. She understood the culture and she knew that it was important to take a lot of gifts with her. She also knew that the pace of life is much slower, and made the necessary adjustment.

We are living in a global environment where the ability to understand and relate to others who are different from us is a prized asset. Books like Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell are important for us to read because they teach us so many lessons on how to interact with people who are different from us.

Why Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell is Important to Me

I mentioned that Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell helped me to successfully complete a client project. And that’s very important. But what is more important, is that it confirms a strong belief I have. One of the reasons I created a reading program with a cultural component is because I am dismayed by the level of violence in the world. I strongly believe that if people were more culturally aware, many would respond differently to those who are different from them. If you read the right books, there is so much that you can learn.

I recommend Witch-Doctor's Apprentice by Nicole Maxwell. It is a book that everyone should read, because the content of the book is an eye-opener.

Next Steps

Wondering what to do next, you can do all of:

1. Buy my new book, Leadership Reading: Spilling the Tea on How Top Leaders Read

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4. Download Unlock Your Genius Power Reading Tips Sheet

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