This book describes artisans from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, as they attempt to overcome poverty and communicate ethnic identity through participation in fluctuating silk and tourist souvenir industries. Morrell assesses the significance and long-term sustainability of their activities. The discussion addresses broad questions about economic development, as microenterprises such as these are vital sources of non-farm incomes in rural areas with high unemployment.

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This book is of greater relevance than its title suggests.... The author is commended for her admirably executed ethnography, which appears well balanced between strong empathy and critical assessment.

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The author began her work in the Sulawesi region in 1991 and, with an extensive period of fieldwork in 1994 as well as return trips after the Southeast Asian economic crisis of 1997–98, she is able to provide a longitudinal study of these artisans' livelihoods and identity transformations. Spanning such a time frame and being able to report on the impacts of the economic crisis adds extra strength to this work.... This book will be of interest for anyone researching small-scale entrepreneurs or artisans in Indonesia, or Southeast Asia more broadly, and for researchers focusing on any social science theme in South Sulawesi.