This book investigates the diverse indigenous cultures inhabiting the Brazilian Amazon basin in the early 1970s. Drawing on ethnographic research and historical accounts, Edwin Brooks and his collaborators present a detailed examination of the social structures, belief systems, and daily lives of various tribal groups. The work aims to document these cultures before significant external influences altered their traditional ways of life.

The book is regarded as a valuable ethnographic record of Amazonian tribes during a critical period of change. Its detailed accounts and broad scope offer significant insights for scholars of anthropology and Latin American history. The work provides a foundational understanding of the cultural richness and diversity of these indigenous communities.