Spirit & Reason: The Vine Deloria, Jr., Reader [Paperback]

Vine Deloria Jr. (Author), Samuel Scinta (Editor), Kristen Foehner (Editor), Barbara Deloria (Editor), Sam Scinta (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1555914306 | ISBN-13: 978-1555914301 | Publication Date: August 1999

In this collection of writings culled from his extensive career, including several works never before published, Deloria explores a wide array of topics, challenging theories of religion and science, examining the problems of modern education, and expounding on our understanding of the world. An essential anthology for people familiar with Deloria's work, as well as those discovering him for the first time, these writings will challenge, provoke, and enlighten.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A collection of the writings of America's premier Native American writer and preeminent thinker! Viewed by many as one of the most influential Native Americans of the twentieth century, Vine Deloria, Jr., through his extensive writings on political and legal issues, has changed the way people view American Indians. Although best known for his contributions to American Indian issues, Deloria has also been one of the foremost critics of contemporary thought. This book is a celebration of the works of one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century.

About the Author

Vine Deloria Jr., was a leading Native American scholar, whose research, writings, and teaching have encompassed history, law, religious studies, and political science. He is the former executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. Sam Scinta is president and publisher of Fulcrum Publishing and the creator of Fulcrum's best-selling Speaker's Corner series on contemporary political affairs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555914306
• ISBN-13: 978-1555914301
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be required reading in Native American studies., June 5, 2000

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit & Reason: The Vine Deloria, Jr., Reader (Paperback)

Spirit & Reason is a collection of 29 essays, some old, some new, covering subjects related to religion, education, social science, philosophy, and other Native American issues. Vine Deloria Jr. is an accomplished, prolific,respected Native American author whose elegant writing style, flawless presentation, and use of irony, humour and intellectual analysis are effective and unmistakable. his is a formidable voice. Describing the complexities of Indian issues and related histories of oppressive government policies, Deloria never loses his concern to build a better vision. This is exemplified in "Alcatraz, Activism & Accommodation" when he suggests: "I favored announcing that not only did Indians want the island, we wanted a federal policy of land restoration that would provide a decent land base for small reservations, return submarginal lands to tribes that had them and in some cases, restore original reservation boundaries (p. 244)." After the occupation (of Alcatraz) ended, he concludes: "The policy posture of Indians at Alcatraz was part of a historical process begun during the War on Poverty when people demanded action from the government but failed to articulate the changes they wanted (p. 247)." He comments further:"Today the government, under Ada Deer, is at work trying to create a new set of categories -'historic' and 'nonhistoric' tribes - so that benefits and services can be radically reduced. When Indians do not articulate clearly what they want, the government feels free to improvise, even if it means creating new policies that have no roots in anything except the fantasies of the creator...Lkie the activists at Alcatraz, we often mill around, keenly aware that we have the ears of the public but uncertain what to do next. Until we can sketch out realistic scenarios of human and resource goals, we continue to resemble those occupants of the Rock a quarter of a century ago: We want change, but we do not know what change.(p. 248)" Thus the wisdom of Deloria informs us today of many issues and wrongs and sufferings of Native Americans while challenging both the dominant culture and Native Americans to find new ways to create better balanced full lives for Native Americans. Challenging, subtle, sophisticated, stimulating reading is here for all modern audiences whether activist or traditional, minority or majority. Clearly, Deloria should be required reading.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book, May 11, 2010

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Gwendolyn S. Barnes (Wilson, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spirit & Reason: The Vine Deloria, Jr., Reader (Paperback)

I find Mr. Deloria's writing to be very engaging. If you wish to learn more about Native American Culture and History you can do so with this book along with sharing in the emotional, psychological and spiritual foundation from which the the Native American people evolved.

3 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The American Indian in general, February 10, 2007

By 

Craig "TX Aggie" (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit & Reason: The Vine Deloria, Jr., Reader (Paperback)

Reading this book is more than an introduction to what Native Americans are and have been about. It's a good read for the scholar of American Indian studies but be prepared to plow through the text.

Deloria gives you fews from many different directions. You might be a bit disappointed if you want to read about specific Native American Nations and get a feel for certain cultures.

Don't expect to get a good geographic cultural view of nations, traditions, and more. For this you'll need to address journals and search libraries. Expect others to tell you the book doesn't flow well enough and there are strong hints of bias, to say the least.

Consider reading this if you have a lot of time and desire to hear the opinions of a man known as a scholar of several disciplines. Search around and hear what others have to say before you tackle this book.