EtHnoGRApHIC BookS take a long time to write, and this one is no exception. Far from a solo endeavor, it has been formed through conversations with colleagues, friends, and family that have kept me fed, grounded, and critical. My son, Elijah Aneesh, has been a constant reminder of what matters most. The book began with a fellowship at the Society for the Humanities, Cornell University, in 2003-04, a year sustained by conversations with Shelley Feldman,