A YEAR IN THE FIELD shows, through the experiences of Joonas Plaan, a young Estonian anthropologist, how cultural anthropologists conduct fieldwork. More than any other methodology, ethnographic field research gives cultural anthropology its unique identity. By immersing themselves in the life of another culture for an extended period, anthropologists acquire an insiders’ understanding of a culture.

Set in a fishery-dependent village in Newfoundland, A YEAR IN THE FIELD illustrates all the main elements of ethnographic fieldwork, from arrival, learning the language, finding a role in the community, and developing rapport to conducting participant observation, interviewing, and recording data in daily field notes. While Joonas at first struggles to gain acceptance—some people think he is a Russian spy—he soon earns the community’s respect and trust by working alongside local fishers as a crew member on crab and lobster boats. As Joonas discovers, fieldwork not only respects and prioritizes local knowledge, it is also a transformative experience for the individual who engages in it.