The Land of Open Graves

Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail

By: Jason De León

Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo

In his gripping and provocative debut, anthropologist Jason De Leon sheds light on one of the most pressing political issues of our time - the human consequences of US immigration policy. The Land of Open Graves reveals the suffering and deaths that occur daily in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona as thousands of undocumented migrants attempt to cross the border from Mexico into the US.

Drawing on the four major fields of anthropology, De Leon uses an innovative combination of ethnography, archaeology, linguistics, and forensic science to produce a scathing critique of "Prevention through Deterrence", the federal border-enforcement policy that encourages migrants to cross in areas characterized by extreme environmental conditions and high risk of death. For two decades, this policy has failed to deter border crossers while successfully turning the rugged terrain of Southern Arizona into a killing field.

In harrowing detail, De Leon chronicles the journeys of people who have made dozens of attempts to cross the border and uncovers the stories of the objects and bodies left behind in the desert. The Land of Open Graves will spark debate and controversy.

©2015 The Regents of the University of California (P)2018 Tantor

It’s good

I thought that this book was really good and would recommend it to anyone curious about modern border politics

Raw description of life at the border

This book has changed my outlook on the hardships faced at the Border. Many people take minority groups for granted, turning a blind eye to the risks they have to take to get here. This book depicts the true raw hostile experiences of a couple (of millions) migrant travelers.

Everyone needs to hear these stories

Helped me understand migration. Highlighted some societal problems from other viewpoints I was not familiar with. I feel like it’s a ‘must read.’

painful but really insightful.

for anyone looking for a distinct insight into migration. really great analysis from an ethnographic standpoint

An Eye Opening Read

This book showed the heart breaking and brutal reality of border crossing in the southern border. The first few chapters are theory and contextualization, while the rest is most anecdotal accounts of border crossing and the experiences of those forced to do so.

Must read!

I am trying to formulate my thoughts about this book. I am forever changed by what I have read. The disregard of human life along our southern border is beyond appalling to me. Jason takes readers on a journey of discovery of the harsh and unforgiving Sonoran Desert and how our government is using nature to punish and kill undocumented migrants. While this book is extremely difficult to read, the message is important. I highly recommend this eye-opening anthropological book.

Thougth provoking!

About polices, poverty, and dreams, but most of all concequenses of capitalism and explotation, very well performance.

Fantastic

Fantastic book. It thoroughly illustrates all the dangers on both sides of the border. Prevention through deterrence kills.

Powerful, vivid, and unapologetic.

One of the best books I've listened to in a while. It answered questions I had when starting and opened pathways to new ones.

Anyone should read this

I read this book for my Bioarchaeology class but I found that there are more lessons to be learned from this book. Definitely read this if you are looking for a no-nonsense, full detail, and realistic kind of book. Try to read it to someone who is close-minded. This book definitely defines anthropology as a useful tool in any subject.