Greg Knotts: This abstract was culled from the back of the book and table of contents.
Brad — a schizophrenic school dropout and self-described "sneaky kid" — first appears as a squatter near Harry Wolcott's forest home. He becomes Wolcott's subject in a long-term life history on how the educational system can fail students. Wolcott's trilogy of articles based on their years of interviews were well-received — until he confessed to an intimate relationship with the young man who, two years after leaving his area, returned and attempted to murder the anthropologist. The Brad Trilogy then became the starting point for heated discussions of research ethics, validity, and the limitations of qualitative research.
Here, Wolcott presents the full story of the Sneaky Kid and the academic firestorm it caused. He also reflects on what the project means for the practice of field research. A stage play derived from the study (by Johnny Saldana) is also included. Written in Wolcott's masterful style, this book is an ideal starting point for discussing the many complex issues of qualitative research.
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