Customer Reviews

Tipis, Tepees, Teepees: History and Design of the Cloth Tipi

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have three other tipi books and this one is by far my favorite. Not only does she cover the basics (styles of tipis, poles, their care and maintenance, setting up a tipi, different knots to tie the tripod (or quad-pod, as I like to call it.)), but she goes as far as to explain practical tipi-living: how to fix tears, proper smoke flap positioning, bathroom and washup, heating the tipi, and tipi transport (even in different countries.) My challenge has been transporting my tipi. Her book also shares some really fun stories of her own expereinces in her tipis over the years. I especially enjoyed the chapter entitled "Why People Never Camp with Me." Coupled with all the excellent diagrams and photos of tipis, and interviews with an immensely diverse group of tipi enthusiasts (who woulda' thunk of tipis in Russia?), this book is awesome from cover to cover. My mother bought a tipi when I was five years old and we stayed in it every summer. When I was in college I bought my own tipi. I guess you could say that I "moved out". With my love of tipis, I thought that tipi living just couldn't be captured in a book. But I think this book manages to do just that!

Former teacher, Native American culture expert and dedicated tipi-maker Linda A. Holley presents Tipis, Tepees, Teepees: History and Design of the Cloth Tipi, an extraordinary history of a cloth dwelling design that has been used in dozens of cultures since the dawn of civilization. Today, tipis can be found in North America, Asia, and Australia, among other places - tipis are naturally durable, weather resistant, and easy to transport, and new synthetic materials help make them adaptable to a wider variety of climates than ever. Tips, Tepees, Teepees covers far more than the history of the tipi; chapters also cover their many styles, how to take proper care of a tipi, how to pitch a tipi, day-to-day life in a tipi, advice on buying a tipi, etc. Numerous black-and-white photographs, a glossary, bibliography, and index round out this one-of-a-kind guide strongly recommended for anyone and everyone curious about tipis.

This is a complete book on the history and the how of making your own tipi. It gives a varity of tipi sizes to make and tell how to design to fit your size needs. Has great information on where to get material and how a tipi is constructied. For the how to geek this is your book.

I really love tipis. and this book does a wonderful job describing not only the process to building one, but the importance and history behind the correct way to execute.
I would recommend to anyone interested in tipis.

I have owned a Linda Holly Teepee for more than 20 years. Our boy scout troop purchased teepees from her as well. Most of them are still in use today. They are a high quality teepees, make no mistake. I have attended many a PowWow and Rendavous with Linda through a span of more than 25 years, and, I believe, as do many, that Linda is a leading authority on the subject. Her book is, IMO a great resource. I own a copy, and highly recommend it. It is very well written, and the photos are beautiful.

This book was very helpful for the tipi, history, and how the insides looked. It was also very good for tips about transporting the tipi and gave some general auto rules. You should check out your local laws about transporting poles that exceed your cars length.

(A carrier basket in the receiver lengthens your car in some states, that might help.)

A good buy!

The information in the book in great....but the publisher has gone the cheap route with this new print on demand in the later editions. The sharp images on the printed dimensions are blurred and the color photos are now in black and white. The first printing of this book was great with the color inserts...but to save on cost they have now eliminated those photos and gone to cheaper paper. I understand they have now corrected the blurred printing, but the book should be in full color to appreciate tipis. The information is still great, but now cheapened to a manual "how to".

It maybe the plight of all new books that have been in print a few years to go to this new cheap way of printing....but it sure does not help the information or photos. Guess the e-books will win out for the reader as this is the new trend.
The author has been putting color photos in the share your photos section. This maybe the only way you will see what the material should have looked like. Hey! that part is free.

I get the sense that the author has never actually put up or lived in a tipi. Certain her explanation of various parts of the tipi, if not entirely incorrect is at least misleading. Given her description of the construction of the tipi and various parts of it, I have a feeling her lodge is needlessly uncomfortable. Especially her explanations of how to deal with cold, rain and high winds.

Linda Holley has written a very informative book on a range of aspects of Tipi history, construction and use which is well thought out and balanced in terms of content.

I am, however, left a little disappointed by the spirit of the thing. Tipis are a way of life and I feel as though it would have been nice to have related Tipis to a wider issue of sustainable living - instead, the use of toxic chemicals and treatments for fabrics is advocated all too often without considering alternatives. Also, the advocation of the use of "Brownings" and "Smith & Wessons" is a little alarming.

Aside from those issues. A pretty good book.