Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology

In his recent article on "Duality and Unity in the Luiseno Cosmos," Richard Applegate attempts and succeeds not only in guiding bis reader through a fascinating maze of esoteric religious details, but also takes him below the surface of descriptive ethnography to view the fundamental principles operating at the very core of the Luiseno world view. Despite the impeccable quality of many previous investigations, a sophisticated theoretical analysis of the implicit structure and logic of the Luiseno belief system has been long overdue. Applegate's presentation is a welcome, much needed, addition to local California anthropology as well as a valuable contribution to more general investigations concerning the symbolic study of religion. Positive superlatives are in order.