In this 1996 Minnesota Book Award winner, Kent Nerburn draws the reader deep into the world of an Indian elder known only as Dan. It’s a world of Indian towns, white roadside cafes, and abandoned roads that swirl with the memories of the Ghost Dance and Sitting Bull. Readers meet vivid characters like Jumbo, a 400-pound mechanic, and Annie, an 80-year-old Lakota woman living in a log cabin. Threading through the book is the story of two men struggling to find a common voice. Neither Wolf nor Dog takes readers to the heart of the Native American experience. As the story unfolds, Dan speaks eloquently on the difference between land and property, the power of silence, and the selling of sacred ceremonies. This edition features a new introduction by the author. “This is a sobering, humbling, cleansing, loving book, one that every American should read.” — Yoga Journal
Neither Wolf nor Dog
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Non-Indian theologian and editor Nerburn attempts to "bridge the gap between the world into which I had been born and the world of a people I had grown to know and love" by narrating the fascinating toils and truths of Dan, a 78-year-old Lakota man.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Readers looking for another red-man-departs-wise-words-to-white-man-to-lessen-white- man's-guilt will be disappointed by the tone and content of this work. Realists wanting a truthful, fiery, and, ultimately, cleansing dialogue between Indian and white will definitely want it. Nerburn reluctantly agrees to a meeting with Dan, a Lakota elder who asks him to construct a book from a motley collection of notes, diatribes, and political and social commentaries written over seven decades and kept in an old shoe box. Void of the hypocrisy rampant in many books that have whites adopting the ways of "the great spirit," Nerburn exposes the real truth, which whites are unwilling to face: that in "the hunger to own a piece of the earth, we had destroyed the dreams and families of an entire race." Joined by a dog named Fatback, Dan gives Nerburn the ride of his life as they cross the vast Midwest in Dan's Buick. Along the way, Dan alternates between rage and melancholy, and Nerburn between shame and confusion. Nerburn unintentionally touches nerve after nerve and elicits an almost unbearable flood of anguish and despair. The truth revealed in this book will be difficult for most whites to face, but it is painfully necessary if healing is ever to begin. Kevin Roddy
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By Cactus Ed
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love this book, this story perhaps more than any other that I own. It is that moving! All my life I have had a deep heartache about the destruction of our Mother Earth at the hands of industrial humans in general, and the destruction of this land we call America at the hands of the European invaders in particular. This book delves deeply into this wound, brings tears of pain and anguish, and ultimately brings about some healing as well. I think it is a GREAT combination of Kerouac and Black Elk Speaks. It is beautifully written and hard to put down. I have read the book many times by now and have given copies to friends. Rumor has it there's a movie version in the works. I love this book so much I'm not sure I'd want to see what Hollywood might do to it! The book is enough, anyway.
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Review written by Russell P. Loven and Juanita Loven:
Once I finally got into this book, it was hard to put it down. Nerburn's style is exciting and easy reading. The author rides around with an "old" (elder) indian resulting in a very thought provoking oral history. The old man trusted few white people, but it is evident that he trusted Nerburn. His comments regarding the white man's treatment of Indians is very dramatic, philosophical and revealing.
While I did not expect to enjoy this book, I quickly found it held my attention to the end. An excellent oral history about the sobering and sad violence inflicted upon the Native Americans. It was moving, powerful and forcefully forced me to think about (and reevaluate) this sad chapter in American history. It should be read by all students of American history. I learned more about the the feelings held by Native Americas (about whites) from this book than from all the other American History accounts studied in my entire life (age 68)."
Once I finally got into this book, it was hard to put it down. Nerburn's style is exciting and easy reading. The author rides around with an "old" (elder) indian resulting in a very thought provoking oral history. The old man trusted few white people, but it is evident that he trusted Nerburn. His comments regarding the white man's treatment of Indians is very dramatic, philosophical and revealing.
While I did not expect to enjoy this book, I quickly found it held my attention to the end. An excellent oral history about the sobering and sad violence inflicted upon the Native Americans. It was moving, powerful and forcefully forced me to think about (and reevaluate) this sad chapter in American history. It should be read by all students of American history. I learned more about the the feelings held by Native Americas (about whites) from this book than from all the other American History accounts studied in my entire life (age 68)."
36 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By Kali
Format:Paperback
Join Fatback the dog, Kent Neburn the author and Dan a Lakota elder as they take a ride through the past, present and perhaps even the future. Meet people like Grover who makes a mean boloney sandwich but finds the white man's world wanting.
A hard hitting book that spares no punches, and takes no prisoners, don't read this book if you are looking for spiritual enlightenment and the way of the Native American.
Because there is no englightenment to be found and the "way" of the so called Native American has all but been wiped out by the presence of the greedy, self serving white man who is now looking for redemption but is unable to find it no matter how hard he/she looks.
"It's not so much about talking" Dan tells Kent one day but rather it is about listening to the world to the voices which are not necessarily human voices, something that white people aren't very good at, past, present or future.
And the land, who owns the land, is it the white man, is it the people who were there before them, or is it "just there" for everyone to use and respect.
I have to admit this book both enchanted and shocked me, enchanted me because it was so fresh and original, shocked me because it told of words that most people are afraid to say but know are true even whilst indignantly denying them.
I can see some people disliking this book, mainly because there is no forgiveness to be found in any of its many pages and this brutal honesty is what makes this book have teeth that bite.
I mean how can anyone ask to be forgiven for ripping up the land, taking children away from their parents, forcing Christianity down people's throats, creating reservations and making a mockery of the past as it REALLY was?... Read more ›
A hard hitting book that spares no punches, and takes no prisoners, don't read this book if you are looking for spiritual enlightenment and the way of the Native American.
Because there is no englightenment to be found and the "way" of the so called Native American has all but been wiped out by the presence of the greedy, self serving white man who is now looking for redemption but is unable to find it no matter how hard he/she looks.
"It's not so much about talking" Dan tells Kent one day but rather it is about listening to the world to the voices which are not necessarily human voices, something that white people aren't very good at, past, present or future.
And the land, who owns the land, is it the white man, is it the people who were there before them, or is it "just there" for everyone to use and respect.
I have to admit this book both enchanted and shocked me, enchanted me because it was so fresh and original, shocked me because it told of words that most people are afraid to say but know are true even whilst indignantly denying them.
I can see some people disliking this book, mainly because there is no forgiveness to be found in any of its many pages and this brutal honesty is what makes this book have teeth that bite.
I mean how can anyone ask to be forgiven for ripping up the land, taking children away from their parents, forcing Christianity down people's throats, creating reservations and making a mockery of the past as it REALLY was?... Read more ›
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I didn't want to put the book down, but when I did, I looked forward to when I could read it again. While the story takes place over a short period of time, it eloquently speaks of thousands of years of life and culture. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It opens the door a crack to a world many of us will never know, but it is a world we need to learn about, acknowledge, and respect. I finished it weeks ago, yet I can recount all of the story, and I still can't look at the white, nor the Native American, way of life in the same light. I don't think I ever will. A wonderful book and a must-read.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By sada
Format:Paperback
I'm Lakota from Paha Sapa. I think the people who want to know if this book is true are all white people. I don't care if everything in it happened. It is true. That's how we were raised. We tell stories that have our truth. I think Dan taught Nerburn this. There are clues. It is very smart like an Indian. Nerburn couldn't make these things up. There is an Indian telling this story. I think the old man was a trickster. He knew how to make wasichu crazy. Nerburn did a good job. This is how the world looks to us. You should read this book.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is not only some of the most absolutely delicious writing I have ever found, but the content was truly ephiphany. Having lived for many years in a community that was filled with Native People, I always had the eerie feeling that I was somehow disingenuous when I was with them, (but couldn't quite figure out why). After reading this, I now understand. I cried all over the book, and belly laughed out loud. If white Americans are ever to hope for forgiveness for the gaping wounds and scars left by what the European people did to the Native People on this continent, we are first going to have to fully understand what happened, and then own the stinging, horrible truth of our ancestors, and our continuing racism. It comes to us, bitterly and sweetly, from the mouth of a Lakota elder, his friends and family, through the courageous pen and heart of Kent Nerburn. The last time I read a book that had as much impact on me as this one, it was Stienbeck's "Grapes of Wrath".
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
suprise upgrade
This was a 2nd edition from the library version I was reading. Nice to have the 10 yr. insights in the forward.
Published 13 days ago by Jean
5.0 out of 5 stars
neither just a man of the earth
This is a powerful moving story. At first it felt kind of boring and slow. But the bread always house the meat. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Tanya M. Spiegel
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Favorite Book
I read this book years ago and loved it. It is actually one of the books I most recommend to readers who ask for suggestions. Creative nonfiction at its best . . . Read more
Published 21 days ago by Beryl S. Bissell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for anyone going on a mission trip to Pine Ridge
Our church youth group visited Pine Ridge Indian Reservation last summer and I realized we knew next to nothing about the history and culture of the Oglala Lakota people. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Jodi Mathews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent resource for Indian culture
I am preparing for a mission trip to an Indian reservation in South Dakota and found this book excellent for insight to the Indian culture. It is worth reading a second time.
Published 28 days ago by darcia j. meier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Book About the REAL Life of Native Americans
This book, by the author's own admission, has taken on a life of it's own. It is the very honest telling of the Native American experience of life, with all of the reality of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Skuja
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thought
Makes a person think deeply about all the different aspects of the indigenous cultures that Western cultures have plowed under.
Published 2 months ago by clinthanley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great insights into Native American culture
We use this book as a training tool for our outreaches to the Navajo. Similar history. Valuable insights into the culture.
Published 2 months ago by BethB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Transformational
This book is a metaphorical look at the transformative power of Listening. Life tends to happen during the in between moments when you least expect it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Beth Lykins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neither Wolf nor Dog
This is one of the best books I've ever read. It touched my soul and heart, and I read it in three days,so much truth to it.
Published 2 months ago by Emma Fahnestock, Ms
Citations (learn more)
2
books
cite this book:
- The Book of Ceremonies: A Native Way of Living and Honoring the Sacred by Gabriel Horn in Back Matter
- Road Angels: Searching For Home Down America's Coast of Dreams by Kent Nerburn in Back Cover
