Other Ways of Seeing the World: Wade Davis

“The social world in which we live does not exist in some absolute sense, but rather is simply one model of reality, the consequences of one set of intellectual and spiritual choices that our particular cultural lineage made…. But whether we travel with the nomadic Penan in the forests of Borneo…. Or a yak herder on the slopes of Chomolungma, all these people teach us that there are other options, other possibilities, other ways of thinking and interacting with the earth” - Wade Davis, The Wayfinders  : Canadian Anthropologist, Writer and Photographer

This passage has stayed with me for the last few years and has gradually reshaped how I see the world. Davis’ words, simple and poetic, carry a profound message: that our reality is only one way to exist and that there are countless other ways of being; better, worse, or simply different ways to live, interact, and perceive things. It may seem obvious, but this realisation is liberating. Life as we know it is not the only way, and understanding this expanded my perspective, and encouraged me to more confidently look beyond my own cultural and generational  norms.

Reading Davis also made me reflect on how upbringing and culture shape our connection with the world. For some, the earth is sacred; for others, it is something to consume and use. His work challenged me to reconsider my own reality and step into someone else’s experience. Davis emphasizes that we have the power to choose how we see the world, and that the beliefs we inherit are not truths.

What I love most about his books is the vivid transporting journey. His words carried me into lives, landscapes, and cultures that I might never encounter otherwise, all while teaching lessons that resonate in our own daily lives. And that’s one of the great things about books. One striking insight is the wisdom often overlooked in what the “developed world” might dismiss as “primitive.” In these “primitive” cultures, we learn that reaching higher doesn’t always mean reaching deeper,  that knowing more, isn’t always knowing more and that there is vast knowledge in traditions and simplicity. 

But it’s not just Davis’ writing that helped my perspective; it’s his photography too. In a world obsessed with curated perfection and selfies, his images remind me to pause and truly see real people. Every day we pass countless faces, yet how often do we reflect on the stories behind the lines, scars, and expressions we see? We don’t, we can’t. Davis’ photographs give the opportunity to reflect on his captures of raw, lived beauty; showing that what society often labels as “flaws” are in fact, marks of individuality, heritage and humanity. His work even changed how I see myself and is something I come back to to continually. 

These are the kinds of images I wish children especially were more exposed to. They celebrate life, individuality and culture, offering an alternative to the boring, cookie cutter perfectionism of social media.

 Both Davis’ writing and photography encourages me to rethink the world, ourselves, and the lives we lead. There is always more than one way to live, countless ways to see, and different forms of beauty. If we open our minds and humble ourselves, some of the most profound truths can be found in unexpected places and in unexpected people, that remind us there are so many ways of seeing this world.