Part 1: Chapter 1 - 2 Summary and Analysis

On April 2, 1968, Castaneda visits don Juan in central Mexico. Castaneda presents his first book to don Juan, telling him that he is the subject. The book draws a bit of curiosity but not much. The two wait on a park bench for one of don Juan's friends, and during this time Castaneda tells a story about poor street children who had offered to shine shoes and had eaten leftover food at a restaurant with outside tables. The author expresses sorrow for the street children, but don Juan objects. He maintains that Castaneda cannot possibly know if one life is better than another because the author has yet to learn how to properly see the world as a sorcerer, or man of knowledge.

Don Juan goes on and explains to the arguing Castaneda that what people look like...