Ben Waber reviewed Moorings by Nidhi Mahajan
An Interesting Ethnographic Exploration
3 stars
Through connected ethnographies spanning the informal trading routes of the Indian Ocean, Mahajan explores how informal international maritime traders live and work in a shifting economic and legal landscape. This book is probably best read by folks who have deep knowledge of the socioeconomic and political history of Eastern Africa, Western India, and the Gulf Coast as there's not a lot of time spent reviewing those topics. If you have a bit of a foundation however it's a fascinating micro view of a unique and nearly timeless phenomena.
Through connected ethnographies spanning the informal trading routes of the Indian Ocean, Mahajan explores how informal international maritime traders live and work in a shifting economic and legal landscape. This book is probably best read by folks who have deep knowledge of the socioeconomic and political history of Eastern Africa, Western India, and the Gulf Coast as there's not a lot of time spent reviewing those topics. If you have a bit of a foundation however it's a fascinating micro view of a unique and nearly timeless phenomena.