Customer Reviews

The Wisdom of the Native Americans

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I have bought many books here, but have never felt compelled to write a review until now. As a person who teaches dogs to help the disabled, I know firsthand the oneness you can experience with the spirit of an animal. I have seen loving, selfless dogs heal the lives of so many who were outcast and emotionally broken. Therefore, when I read this work, my soul leapt with joy to finally, FINALLY! find out that others (Nations!) feel about the natural world as I do. While this work doesn't focus solely on animals, but encompasses the Native American view on many, many topics, including life, death, living, nature, The Creator and their experiences with white culture, I truly felt I had found "home" when I came upon their beliefs about animals. In my family's religion, man is supreme, animals have little to no value and when they die, that's it, they're just dead. This wonderful book gives a different perspective on The Spirit of The Creator as it is reflected in people, nature AND animals. A perspective in need of hearing and teaching to so many who today, place no value on our natural world. To me, it was the proverbial cool drink of water on a hot, hot day. Read it and find your soul. Rather, read it, embrace it and reclaim your soul. No doubt you will find it waiting patiently for you in the wilderness ...............

This book is a masterpiece of American Indian philosophy and Spirituality.

This book is basicly a collection of quotes and speeches by various American Indian leaders with a few comments by Mr. Nerburn that edited them into a seamless volume of American Indian thought.

There are quotes here that deal with their Spirituality including reincarnation, Their family Life, Their care for Nature, Honesty, etc.

I am considering buying several more copies of this book to help my family and friends understand my spiritual beliefs.

I only have one minor nitpick. Mr. Nerburn insists on calling the Chief of the Suquamish people "Chief Seattle". His name was Sealth. Seattle was an error in translation.

Yes; Seattle, Washington was named for this wise leader.

Please E-mail me if you have questions or comments about my review. Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda "We give thanks Great Spirit"

"Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can make for our children." --Sitting Bull

Great oratory is often found in a single, heartfelt statement. This powerful little book of wisdom shares so many precious words on how to walk the road to a good life for our own personal journey as well as our families, friends and the world's peoples. Filled with these simple yet profound statements from the indigenous peoples of the Americas they will bring tears to your eyes, laughter to your heart and a little wisdom to your soul.

For the reader who may think this is another "new age title", nothing could be further from the truth as noted in the Chapter, The Coming of the White Ways, "Another of the older men, called upon for his views..."I have come to the conclusion that this Jesus was an Indian. He was opposed to material acquisition and to great possessions. He was inclined to peace...he set no price upon his labor of love." The book closes with the great speeches of Chief Joseph, Chief Seattle and Chief Red Jacket. If all the earth's peoples embraced these simple and timeless rules for living we would be a happier world.

I will keep this book Now and Forever to remind me of those that have gone before. My ancestors are not and never were just those to whom I am related by blood but those to whom I am related by Spirit. These are they who went before and suffered the ultimate loss. But they left behind a small crumb for me to follow and I honor them for this. Here are their words. Small crumbs of that guidance.

I am grateful to Kent Nerburn for gathering this small volume of wisdom for those of us who care, to keep, and to carry.

This book is a great intro to the wisdom of Native Americans, as well as it offers such a nice collection of glimpses into completely different ways of life that can be created by human kind. Particularly touching also are the testimonials from Indian leaders showing how they practiced a culture and attitude of respect and constructive engagement with whites, only to be met often enough with a response of demented brutality and destruction of their people. Reading this book made me imagine what an exhilirating experience it must have been to live in societies where dignity and respect and bravery and a deeply holistic way of life with nature was the underlying matrix of society. What precious things have been lost with the genocide of indigenous peoples. It also made me think how nice it would be if Hollywood, TV, and pop culture instead of putting out their usual trash, went by rooting their production in the teachings such as those chronicled in this book. Readers may also be interested in "Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong " by J.Lowen. Lowen tells in one of the chapters regarding Native Americans that at a certain point in time, colonial Europeans in North America had serious trouble in keeping many white people from running away from the Euro communities to join Native American societies. This book offers a glimpse as to why that would have been quite nice. Vera

While I have a passion for the ways of the ancestors and read this book with great interest, yet at the same time, I cannot help but to ask Kent Nerburn why he felt such editorial license to remove practically everything of substance from Charles Eastman's original 1911 treatise entitled "The Soul of an Indian". The most unfortunate part for me about this book is that in so doing, Mr. Nerburn has substituted his own interpretation for that of the original author and this has resulted in much that was of substance in the original 1911 treatise being removed and stripped.

In a day and age where our people need to hear the voices of those who were "there" and wanted to share their perspecives and teachings with future generations, who wanted to their wisdom with us, for me this was the only draw-back of this anthology but it was a significant one. I thought that I was purchasing the original words of a great Native American, Ohiyesa, but instead peered into a reflection pool: something that gives you the impression of truth but that quickly fades once the first ripple passes over the surface.

My recommendation for future editions is to include the full length text of "The Soul of an Indian". Anything less only contributes to the eradication of Native culture that has been perpetuated against the ways and teachings of our people.

You could - and many have - devote your entire lifetime to searching for wisdom and truth. The wisdom and truth found in the words of this book is all that any of us will ever need. Read it, be still, look deeply into your soul, and you will know.

I rarely review books but this one is an exception. This book should be required reading for all students. The speeches given by the Native American chiefs are as moving and eloquent as any I've read. They rival Lincoln, Kennedy, and King Jr in thought and phrasing. These are the words of "savages" as we called them. Reading this book I can only wonder who were the savages when you look at our history with the native peoples of this country. This is a book I'll read again and again.

This was one of the first books I purchased on Native Anerican, history, Philosophy, etc. I absolutely fell in love with it. A fast read and gives the totally green American what Native American philsophy and spirituality is all about in one small book. Though only delving into it briefly, as a non-native it gave me a better understanding of our first people. So much so I have since purchased many more books on the Native Americans, and their History and Lifestyle. The speeches in this book by Chiefs Joseph and Seattle are awesome and make you think. They definitely know where it is at, and are true survivors, especially the Navajo.

The words are inspiritional and delivered from an untainted source . The subject matter is depressing . To think that we( the white man ) could have done so many things to the Indians is unbelieveable . The thoughts are simple and uncomplicated and comfort me . Not all busy with modern mentalty or crazy disjointed thoughts . have re-read it twice and will hold on to it to read again .