Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

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Summary: The truth about the war on the American frontier
Review: I am no authority on the subject, and therefore am in no position to discuss the significance of this work in terms of American historiography, but on a personal level this book is one that has led to some soul searching, if you will. If read with an open and objective mind, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee leads one to question the legitimacy and manner in which Europeans "settled" this continent, not to mention how the original inhabitants have been treated since that time. Sadly, circa 125 years after the events in this book transpired, and some 30 years after the books was published, we see parallels in the modern world.

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Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: This is a heartbreaking tale of how the United States destroyed the native civilizations of North America. Dee Brown tells this story from the Native Americans' point of view. He details how Americans used a series of treaties to swindle the natives out of their land. Time and time again, these treaties were broken. Land was continually stolen from the natives, and when they tried to stand up for their rights as outlined in the treaties, then the U.S. army was there to murder and torture the natives until they could no longer resist. This book will prove to be an eye-opener. As an American, I was spoon-fed the theory of Manifest Destiny in American high school. I think it would be better to call it what it really is -- genocide. If you would like to read about "how the west was won," then I would recommend that you pick up this book, so that you can learn the real truth about American history.

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Summary: A masterpiece
Review: Its been over 30 years since _Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee_ was first published, yet it remains an authority on the history of the American West.

Written from the Native People's perspective, Brown meticulously documents the conflicts and issues that eventually resulted in the forced settlement of Natives on reservations between 1860 and 1890. In exploring the complexities of the issues, Brown does not fall into the trap of villifying "the white man" while "enobling" the Natives - while sympathetic to the Natives, punches are not pulled regarding actions by either side. The history is much more complicated than a littany of broken promises and broken treaties. The stories of such varied peoples as the Navajo, Apache, Ute, Cheyenne and Sioux, Kiowa and Puna have similar features in the conflicts these nations had with whites; yet the inter-generational conflicts within tribes and the unique circumstances between the federal government and Natives are also explored in detail. The only criticism I have is its lack of maps to give readers a clearer idea of the areas discussed in detail in the text of the book.

_Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee_ is an outstanding history that addresses many misconcpetions Americans have about the settlement of the West, while also serving as a reminder of the unpleasant nature and the costs involved in "winning the West."

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Summary: A must read
Review: I read this when it was first published and recently reread it. This is THE book to start with it if you have an interest in Native American History or only intend to read one. It is interesting and heartbreaking. I reread this book and think of all the crises that have transpired since this book was initially published...Serbia, Rawanda, Sudan, etc. etc. and etc. We never seem to tire of destroying one another. Anyway, once you have read this book I would also recommend Trail of Tears and Chief Joseph's I will fight no more forever. And while you are at it take a look at some of the vintage photographs of Native Americans taken by Edward Curtis.

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Summary: Ignorance is no excuse
Review: A good friend who is part Navajo gave me this book and told me I should read it...he told me it was important. After reading it, I have seen things differently and I don't think I can go back. I see everything differently, from my education to the way our country runs to the presidential politics. Dee Brown's book has effected every corner of it. I still meet people who are afraid to read it and even those who call it "meta-fiction," made up stories by someone trying to make whites feel bad about taking land. But ignorance can no longer help you stand. This book shredded the ignorance that I once held on to. Every American should read it and digest it and reflect on their own rights and privelages and be grateful.

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Summary: Amazing!
Review: I am a huge fan of history but really am not a fan of reading. There are are only three books I have ever finished in my entire life, and this is one of them. Usually I get bored and toss them out, or they are just bad books all together. This book is amazing. I wanted a book about the history of the native americans and after reading reviews I felt this would be the best choice. Boy was I right! Much to the amazement of people around me, I couldn't put it down. It gives informative and sometimes heart wrenching accounts of the systematic extermination of the once great Native american nations. It really has taken me aback, I always knew we screwed the Native americans but I never realized it was this bad.

If you are a fan of history this is an absolute must read, and coming from one whom doesn't read a lot, that is saying something.