Bill Howell

As someone who was unfamiliar with the tenets of Rastafarianism, I was unsure what to expect from this book. I was pleasantly surprised. It is written by one of the sons of the man who founded Pinnacle, a Rastafarian community in Jamaica. The author lived there as a child and through his teenage years, so he has a very different perspective than someone who lived there as an adult would probably have. He gives us a glimpse into daily life, growing up, and the general nature of the small show more village. Unsurprisingly, Pinnacle mirrors the attitudes of many communes which have been founded through the years - personal freedom, respect, and a desire for like-minded community. There are excellent descriptions of the way houses were built, how day-to-day things such as mealtimes and the very occasional theft were handled by the population, and other minutiae that might otherwise go unmentioned in a book that focused primarily on the political or social views of the community. The author does go into some detail about the way the members of the community were treated by authorities, and the ongoing attempt to eject his father (and fellow citizens) from the land. The author does note that his father was generally considered the one in charge, and some thought of him as a god-type, but that his father did not consider himself to be above anyone else in the village, much less a god. There is also a fair amount of history that the author provides about his father, as well as his mother, whom he feels absolutely does not get a fair amount of mention in the history of Pinnacle. Throughout the book, there are several documents such as letters written to authorities with "concerns" about the village, as well as newspaper articles from the time. I feel like these were scanned onto the pages of the book with the intent of maintaining the feeling of age, but many of them were simply too dark and/or tiny, rendering the print illegible. I would have liked to be able to read all of the articles that accompanied the book, but as that is my primary complaint, I would have to say that this book was an overall enjoyable read, and an excellent introduction into the daily life of a community many people probably feel like they know, but which few actually do. show less

A fascinating look at the first Rasta commune written by the son of the Rasta movement. I didn't know all that much about the early days of Rasta or the Pinnacle community, so I really enjoyed Howell's recollections from his childhood there.

He doesn't mince words discussing the oppression the early Rastas felt from the government and this becomes particularly poignant as he discusses his family's removal from Pinnacle after trickery surrounding the ownership of the land.

There is show more surprisingly little about Rastafarianism in the book, presumably because much of that history is covered in the co-author's "The First Rasta" (which I own, but haven't read yet). show less

I'm really enjoying the information, first hand perspective, and immersive reading experience. Only about half-way through, but it has been fascinating.
Part of the experience of reading has been seeing the history of a group through the eyes of a very biased individual. Many historical narratives make an effort to put a veneer of neutrality over the text. They present a dispassionate exposition from the uninvolved and disinterested observer.
Not here. This is a personal history. And it is show more fantastic to hear the authenticity of experience. "Later in life ... [m]y brother would say, 'No, Billy, you can't remember, you were too young!' But I remember; I was there." (p. 12) And I feel that! I have memories of remembering a memory - is it the same as having a memory? No - and Yes. But it feels real, and that's what counts.
So if you have any interest in Jamaica, the Rasta movement, or fringe movements that maintain relevance this is a great opportunity to find a direct narrative of the experience. True history? No - and Yes. show less

A rather simple, albeit reverential, memoir of a childhood spent on a utopian commune on the Island of Jamaica. Leonard Percival Howell (the authors father) and his Ethiopian Salvation Society may well be the precursors to the Rastafarien movement, but you will find no evidence here, only fond memories and bold assertions. The story as laid out brings up many questions and answers very few. That said, I did find this short book enjoyable and thought provoking. Reading Helene Lee's Biography show more 'The First Rasta' is the obvious next step. show less