Part One, Stopping The World: Chapter 1, Reaffirmations From the World Around Us Summary and Analysis

Carlos Castaneda is an anthropology student seeking information from a Yaqui Indian sorcerer named Don Juan Matus in order to research psychotropic plants. The author's objective becomes sidelined by Don Juan, who avoids all discussion of plants. In this, Castaneda's third book on lessons from a 'man of knowledge,' Don Juan's mysterious but charismatic persona takes Castaneda under his wing. From December, 1960 to May, 1971, Castaneda becomes his reluctant sorcerer's apprentice. The Indian is determined to show Castaneda entry into an alternative reality akin to that reached through peyote.

At their first meeting, the intense quality of Don Juan's glance intimidates the author into arming himself with six months of further research, before daring to visit the Yaqui again...