How long does it take to read The Spirit and the Flesh?
Walter L. Williams
The Spirit and the Flesh by Walter L. Williams takes about 6 hours 18 minutes to read at 250 words a minute.
About 6 hours 18 minutes
A weekend read
First published 1986. 344 pages, about 94,600 words.
13 days at 30 minutes a day
Estimate based on 275 words per page.
At other speeds
| Slow, 150 words a minute | 10 hours 31 minutes |
| Average, 250 words a minute | 6 hours 18 minutes |
| Fast, 400 words a minute | 3 hours 57 minutes |
The page count is the median across 5 editions, so your copy may differ. How we calculate.
About the book
Walter L. Williams's excellent research has produced one of the most extensive studies of the berdache culture among Native Americans. Unlike the larger American society, Native Americans historically have respected, and in many tribal nations venerated, homosexuals. Williams explains the berdache as a custom, its social roles, and the berdache history, including its introduction to the European concept of sin and intolerance of sexual diversity. The word berdache applies almost exclusively to males, mainly because historical records only relate dealings with aboriginal males, but Williams also includes a chapter on female sexual diversity, using the word amazon to describe these often warriorlike women. Author's Note about the use of "berdache" and "Two-Spirit" Shortly after the second revised edition this book was published in 1992, the term “Two-Spirit Person” became more popular among native people than the older anthropological term “berdache.” When I learned of this new term, I began strongly supporting the use of this newer term. I believe that people should be able to call themselves whatever they wish, and scholars should respect and acknowledge their change of terminology. I went on record early on in convincing other anthropologists to shift away from use of the word berdache and in favor of using Two-Spirit. Nevertheless, because this book continues to be sold with the use of berdache, many people have assumed that I am resisting the newer term. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unless continued sales of this book will justify the publication of a third revised edition in the future, it is not possible to rewrite what is already printed, Therefore, I urge readers of this book, as well as activists who are working to gain more respect for gender variance, mentally to substitute the term “Two-Spirit” in the place of “berdache” when reading this text. — Walter L. Williams, Los Angeles, 2006
Subjects: Berdaches, Indians of North America, Male Homosexuality, Sex role, Sexual behavior, Homosexuality
