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FYI Jay Courtney Fikes, an anthropologist, investigated Castaneda's work and concluded that he had based the character of Don Juan upon Ramon Medina Silva, a Huichol shaman. He outlines some serious shortcomings in Castaneda's depictions of the yaqui as ciphers for the Huichol and concludes that: "he [Don Juan] is more allegorical than actual".

It certainly doesn't stop one from enjoying the books but it's worth reading Fikes work alongside. Title: Carlos Castaneda, Academic Opportunism And The Psychedelic Sixties.