Indian Books

Rita has shared a true life story. It is a brave revelation of the many twists of life. There are many lesson one picks up througout the book. To look at life with a broad, unselfish view while valuing every drop in the ocean of time is one. Every life event has a purpose, and one must have faith in the way life unfolds itself. Her presentation is truly pictureque --from Rajasthan in India to Africa and multi-cultural Canada.

Hi! I am Rita Nayar.
I am writing a message here to provide an email address to those of you who wish to get in touch with me!
It is rita_nayar@hotmail.com
Please do write as I would love to get your thoughts, comments, feedback or simply an acknowledgement of my book.

Rita's book is about her journey; an idyillic child hood living in
exotic locations, her horrific first few months of marriage, her attempt
to escape, her immigration to Canada, her constant quest to placate her
violent and unstable husband, her carrer success, her wonderful children
and the most unimaginable tragedy anyone can ever experience.

Her story has a universal appeal which crosses cultural and economic
boundaries. My admiration for her has no bounds, because she has
survived and is willing to share her story to celebrate her son and to
reach out to women.

This is a true story of love, abuse, suffering, tragedy, forgiveness, redemption and closure. When I began reading this book, I was not able to put it down until I had finished it.

This is a memoir. If you are living through, or have lived through, family violence, or simply know someone in that situation, then this book may be very helpful. It grew out of Rita's own need to come to terms with these horrific events in her life. She has since also become active in providing support and counseling to others who are suffering or have suffered domestic abuse.

Be warned: the violence that the author and her family endured is graphically described. But it is not gratuitous violence. The violence was real, personal and even fatal for some members of Rita's family. That it occurred in a middle class family in a middle class neighborhood in a major North American city provides a hint of the pain that may be only one friend or family away from each of us.

Wow! An amazing story of survival and sacrifice. This extraordinarily personal story is written in a simple yet eloquent style that provides a window directly into the heart of a woman dealing with unbearable emotional confines in her life.

It is both an awful story of an oppressive and controlling man and awesome story of a woman's struggle for emotional and spiritual freedom for herself and her children. And it is the story of an Indian woman's struggle to reconcile her own identity within traditional Indian culture and with family expectations about her role in marriage and in life.

Read this book if you want to be astounded...and then inspired!

This is a good book. It is real. Buy it, read it, believe it.

Dear Ron:
I finally got around to reading PENUCQUEM SPEAKS, and find it totally fascinating, unlike anything else I've ever read. I don't know of anyone who has had the unique experience you have had, of living in two cultures, and therefore being in a position to learn from that. Quite an amazing trajectory, from Vietnam to Blackfeet culture. And your analysis of Whiteman thinking, Whiteman culture, fundamentalism, the difference between Jesus and Paul -- all very interesting to me. You bring us back to what Indian culture cherished, the equality of women, the preservation of nature, everything that "progress" and "civilization" have corrupted.
Thanks so much for letting me have your book.

Howard Zinn

Ron West has written a compelling book that will plunge you into Indian culture told from a very powerful, instightful voice. Hunter Thompson-esque, this great piece of work. From the first draft I had the privilege to review, I was impressed with his unique voice and edgy humor. Ron's important work is a must read.

Over the last 200 years Ron West is one of the few whites to get an unfettered inside view of the Native American world. He does not look in from the outside, but was directly taught by widely known and respected healers. He became a part of it. His transition from western civilization to the ancient Oral Tradition Indian world allowed him to acquire a unique knowledge. You discover the outcome in this book, a deep insight into this world from the Native perspective. The attentive reader will find information unavailable to this time because westerners were not allowed this knowledge, forbidden to outsiders. Dr. Karl Schlesier mentions in his foreword the chapter on the Stick Game divination is the best ever written in literature. Why has this happened now? You may find the answer in the very first sentences of the book, in Medicine Man Pat Kennedy's words:" I want the whole world to know". These words invite the reader to see and understand. With much Indian humor and sharp words of truth, westerners should bear in mind this is not only a book to explain the Indian worldview. You're also going to see your own civilization from the Indian eyes. This is sometimes a painful thing, even to the open minded. To those who are deeply rooted in western society and believe ours is the only road to walk, it could be a hazard to read this book.
Be that as it may, let's go on a journey with Strawberry (my favorite chapter) and keep in mind everybody is welcome to become the 23rd generation.

Ron's work is a true landmark!

The book provides a striking balance between cultural ethnography, personal confessional, and mythic parable all rolled into one. You will be entertained by West's singular humor, frankness, and perspective regarding life at the intersection of two distinct worlds. Its a book that's hard to put down in its unflinching look at life in Indian Country, within the context of modern America.

There is a subtle presence that lives within this book, with powerful truths both concealed and revealed throughout its pages, in layers of meaning and insight waiting to be revealed to the right eyes and ears.

Ron West is also an investigative journalist and legal historian who has chronicled to unparalled depths the true story of Indian-American affairs and the unfortunate deceits of history.

Much wisdom and mirth lies in these pages!

I read a lot of westerns but I enjoyed this one the most! I laughted and laughted as a goverment that hasn't changed in all these years tries to steal the indians land, push a railroad down their throats and fight as dirty as anyone on earth. Reminds me of the goverment we still have today!

I loved this book! Will be looking for the movie. want one of those Catahoula cur dogs too!

This is the kind of western I always look for but hardly ever find. Ralph Cotton tells it like it is when it comes to the government and what they did to the sioux indians. Once I started reading it and seeing the war from both sides, I realized this was no ordinary western. Sometimes the language is a little strong but that's easy to overlook for a person who enjoys real life like stories

I didn't think another western could top While Angels Dance, but Powder River does. It is more like watching a Sam Peckinpaw movie than reading a book. Cotton is one heck of a writer with a lot to say. These are the kind of westerns that I've been looking for

After reading Cotton's first book I couldn't imagine another one being that good. But Powder River even tops the first one. It's more like watching a Sam Peckinpaw movie than reading a book. Finally, a western writer with something worth saying

When I read Cotton's first Jeston Nash novel, I thought it was the best non-Louis Lamour western I'd ever read. Powder River's content is less graphic than his first, and even more entertaining. One almost begins to feel sorry for Jeston; but luckily the misanthrope manages to let his true greedy nature show through. The two anti-heroes (Jeston Nash and Quiet Jack) are the biggest thing to stagger out of the west since US Grant!

The reading horizon just got brighter because Wendy Lawton has brought history to light again. In �Ranson�s Mark� author Wendy Lawton adds to her �Daughters of the Faith� Series by illuminating the life of Olive Oatman, pioneer of the 1850s.

Olive Oatman at thirteen embodied the strength and perseverance needed for days of the Santa Fe Trail. Driven by elusive dreams, men left it all and placed families at the mercy of the elements as well as renegade Indian tribes just to gain gold and adventure. Olive Oatman was a member of one such family. �Ransom�s Mark� is a vivid portrayal of poor choices and God�s ability to use whomever He chooses to redeem the consequences.

Lawton�s writing is defined by careful research, strong story line, and vivid snapshots. The author complements her historical scenes with a glossary that further acquaints the reader with the vocabulary of the time. Olive Oatman�s legacy breathes again under the influence of Wendy Lawton�s pen.

One cannot refuse this writing. Handing the reader a strong but rich cup of coffee, Lawton encourages you to linger for another long sip. Savor �Ransom�s Mark,� another unforgettable drink from the cup of history and �Daughters of the Faith� Series.

Wendy Lawton's ability to paint vivid pictures with words is a rare ability and this is Wendy's best example so far. I have read 3 of the 4 books written by Ms. Lawton. Ransom's Mark is easy to read and interesting. Wendy's writing keeps adults and children alike interested in the story. After reading this book I wanted to do more research into Olive Oatman's life. Like Wendy's other books this one paints a picture of herstory(women in history) not often covered in the classroom.

Until I read this book, I was unfamiliar with the struggles of Olive Oatman; but as usual, Wendy Lawton takes a historical figure and makes her as real as she was in her day.

This story expresses the doubts and fears of a young girl who, due in part to her father's impetuous nature, is left in circumstances that force her to find to her own faith. She finds no easy answers; she finds few answers of any sort, most of the time. This fact makes her human and brings her to life once again in this well-researched biographical novel.

This story is filled with details about pioneers, Indians, and the geography of the land and yet it doesn't overbalance the tale of young Olive. This is so well written the reader doesn't realize all the information the writer is pouring into her head. I was so caught up in the story that I found myself crying through the last pages. It is rare that I find a book I like so much. It is going on my gift list for all birthdays and holidays this upcoming year. I have lots of young friends to share this with.

Olive Oatman is thirteen years old in the fall of 1850 when her father decides the family will leave their Illinois farm and go west to California. Olive, her parents, and her six siblings join a wagon train west, but have trouble from the start. Their leader turns out to be unreliable, and changes their destination. The wagon train splits several times, until the Oatmans eventually end up on their own in dangerous Indian territory, because her father is unwilling to wait at the safety of a village for another wagon train to join. Olive fears the worst will happen, and she is right. Renegade Indians attack the Oatmans and massacre most of the family, sparing only Olive and her seven-year-old sister, Mary Ann, who they take captive. Olive struggles to keep up hope during her captivity and to adjust to her difficult new life, all the while trying her best to protect frail Mary Ann.

This was an excellent historical novel for young readers that brought to life the true story of Olive Oatman. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly those who have an interest in this time period or in Indian captive stories, are sure to enjoy this book.

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down until I was through. Congratulations on an excellent delivery. Waiting for Kokopelli's Dream.

A friend of mine suggested this book to me, I told me it would be worth the effort taken to find it. I couldn't agree more. The life story of Manny Twofeathers told in his words is a inspiration.

Manny is by no means a polished author, but the plain language and the raw presentation help to make this a much more compelling and effective book.

With some of the graphic descriptions of the sacrifices and ceremony involved in the Sundances,

I would suggest this book to anyone who is looking for some inspiration as they make there way through a long and troubled journey.

I found myself identifying with the authors sense of wandering and how he found his true spirit within the sundance. The path he chose was not easy nor seen as sensable. Yet through his commitment and spiritual awarness, the author was able to achive the greater sense of self we all desire.

Road to Sundance is very well written and enlightening. I thank Manny Twofeathers for telling us of his journey. anyone who has any interest in Indian traditions or is looking for their spiritual path should read this. Ambyr

As one who knows Manny and is a Sundancer I recommend this book to anyone who truely wants some understanding of this most beautiful and powerful prayer. Manny's descriptions of how he got to this road and the road he traveled are straightforward and descriptive without loosing the respect for the ceremony. He describes the heart it takes to follow the Sundance Road.

I must admit that I rarelly use guide books, however, given that I wanted to be fully prepared for my two weeks in Nepal I decided to order the Rough Guide to Nepal. I found it very useful. Not only does it share excellence (and accurate) tips I found the section on cultural tips very good. I reccommend it as a good preparation tool for Nepal.
The book arrived in excellent condition and well before the due date for delivery.

The best thing about this book is its vast coverage; especially those places off the beaten track. It has a lot of practical information and despite being 2 years old now, it was still fairly accurate. Other travel books attempt to be encyclopedic about Nepal,... documenting everything without prioritizing the places that people actually do visit. David's book goes into a lot of detail about places of interest, both historical and practical info. For example, the book had an excellent section on Chitwan national park. In fact, on our recent trip it saved us from getting a guide. I thoroughly recommend this book. The author even keeps a website to update the readers. Great.

great guidebook. Describes in detail the good, the bad and the ugly of Nepal. The language section was extremely useful. A few hours spent learning some useful greetings and phrases will pay off tenfold upon arrival in Nepal. Being able to bargain or ask for directions in the native language is a lot of fun and much appreciated, especially since most travellers do not take the time to learn anything more than "Namaste."

This book has given me comfort and a wealth of information about what I would like to do and see in Nepal. Having a well planned trip in advance is smart and this book will probably tell you everything you need to know about anything, and more. Food, health issues, places to stay, sights, special points, etc. Definitely worth the investment.

I just returned from Nepal using this guide. The book was very well-written with lots of practical advice-- everything from how to book an airline to what kind of diahrrea you may have picked up. Very accurate information re. hotels, modes of transportation, etc. Useful vocabulary list.

Jason Aaron is quickly becoming one of my favorite new writers and Scalped is why. Scalped tells the story of angry, violent Dashiell Bad Horse, who returns to the Reservation of his childhood as an undercover federal agent. Dashiell is hard to love, but you just know that Aaron is leading up to something big for the character, so you can forgive him for all the repressed rage and self-destructive behavior. Scalped is dark, violent, filled with sex, booze, and hard drugs... but none of that covers up the narrative's strong human element. Scalped is the story of one man's long, hard road to redemption and this volume presents an excellent start to the series. Big things are happening for Aaron now--he's writing for big name Marvel titles like Wolverine and Ghost Rider--and it all started here. So check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Scalped is by far one of the best stories in comics today. Jason Arron brings a realism that just can't be seen in many other comic currently being written.

Scalped however is not for the faint of hart or younger readers. It is very much so a book for mature reader but if that doesn't bother you then this is a book you should check out.

I purchased Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country when I saw the iFanboy guys talking about it. It sounded different, and interesting, and most of all it wasn't a traditional capes and cowls comic. This trade features the first 5 issues of the monthly comic. It took me until chapter 2 or 3 to really get into it and understand what was going on, once you do, it's a hell of a ride. The combination of writing, script, and art makes you feel like you're there on "The Rez" with everyone else, like you're right in the thick of it. I remember cursing aloud when Dash did something stupid when it was obvious he shouldn't have. The characters are written extremely well, by the end of Indian Country you pretty much know the main players and the histories between them. I had a feeling of knowing them intimately when I finished this book. Another great thing about this book is that the characters actually speak Lakotan to one another. Not being of American Indian descent, I don't know what the hell they are saying, but you can pretty much piece it together from the surrounding dialogue. The twists in this story are great too, 2 big ones in Indian Country. I'm just waiting to get through a few more books and I'll be checking out the 2nd trade, "Casino Boogie".

I've just finished a fresh re-read of the five issues collected in this trade specifically for prep in writing this review. Jason Aaron, previous to giving us Scalped, penned a mini-series called The Other Side, also published through Vertigo. Prior to that, Aaron was basically unheard of. The fact that he's hit a bullseye with his very first monthly series is incredible but I assure you, dear pondering reader, that it is a fact. Indian Country introduces us to Dashiell Bad Horse, a native to The Prairie Rose Reservation, South Dakota. The first thing Dash does is get into a fight with fifteen guys in a bar. With nunchaku, no less! He is, to put it mildly, looking for trouble. He's been off the Rez for fifteen years and has just come back for reasons made clear at the end of the first issue (or part I of the Indian Country arc). Right away Jason Aaron assaults the reader with abrasive language and since we're reading a Vertigo book, there are no asterisks, ampersands, question or exclamation marks to cover up the naughty words. It's hardcore, is what I'm saying, and it reads like real talk for real thugs and hoodlums.
It isn't long before the main "villain" is introduced, Lincoln Red Crow. Red Crow is the Council Tribal President and essentially runs the reservation. His introduction leaves no question as to how ruthless a character he is but I don't like to use the label of villain to sum him up, hence the quotation marks above. Again, putting it mildly, he's complicated. In describing these two characters, I do hope I'm implying the excellence in Aaron's writing and characterization. All the characters in this book are, at best, morally grey. They're whole humans, not caricatures.
Without spoiling too much, we learn very quickly that Dash is back on the Rez for a reason, even if he knows he's in over his head. He's an undercover FBI agent who's been sicced on Red Crow by probably the most miserable and hateful FBI minder ever to "grace" South Dakota with his presence: Special Agent Nitz. Nitz has an axe to grind with Red Crow that goes back twenty some years to the murder of two FBI agents on the Prairie Rose Reservation. All of this is deftly explained over the course of this five part collection. Meanwhile we get to see Dash kick some teeth and break some heads as he's quickly hired on as Tribal Police under Red Crow. Through this, the character becomes re-initiated into life on the Rez and the reader gets a glimpse of what life might be like there.
This is a crime story but it's told in a way that's as unique as it's setting; an American Indian reservation. Aaron uses some slick time displacement gimmicks to trade back and forth between past, immediate past and present as he brings us along on a ride through this poverty stricken wasteland. When we meet Dash's mother, Gina Bad Horse, all question about the tone of the book should be laid to rest. Gina's first reaction to Dash is to slap him and call him a fascist. Later on, Red Crow uses eloquent phrasing toward his own daughter, Carol. These are HARD people with no illusions and to go back to the title (a quote from Red Crow in part I) of this review, supremely disenchanted. Jason Aaron masterfully captures this cast off world and sucks the reader in and after reading the first five issues again, I'm craving more even though I've read up through issue sixteen already! Another thing I like is Aaron's use of Lakota dialogue (sans subtitles). It's little touches like that, especially without translating it for us, that lend to the authenticity of the book. But is it good? Yes! There's shootings, there's meth lab busts, there's rampant sex(!), there's organized crime intrigue, there's betrayal, there's scalping(!!), and there's plenty of meat on each perspective of each of the characters to satisfy all your crime/noir needs. R.M. Guéra (Heavy Metal) handles the art and his style totally fits the book. The facial expressions are perfect and the action scenes flow cinematically. Plus, he has a way of depicting the residents of Prairie Rose Reservation that clearly divides them as two tribes: young and old. It's interesting to note all the little touches he puts in and oh! His women look ridiculously sexy too. It's hard to compare him stylistically to other artists but if I had to do it, to save my life, I'd say he's very reminiscent of Eduardo Risso from 100 Bullets except less polished (not a knock).
If you're looking for a new venue in crime fiction, this book is it. Buy it!

Easily one of the best new books out there. Jason Aaron weaves an amazing story that draws the reader instantly and rewards them with every page. The story is split between past and present and builds a rich pantheon of deap characters.
I'll be honest the story didn't appeal to me while reading reviews of it but once I started reading I was hooked.
R.M. Guera's artwork is masterful, he captures the somber mood of the reservation in every page. I find it easy to get detached from the story when the artwork doesn't work well with the writing but in Scalped the two elements merge perfectly.
I strongly suggest giving Scalped a try, I for one can't wait for more.

Perfet for any Culture , or People.

This is a good book for beginners that teaches the basics of arrow making the traditional way. It also offers alternative ways using modern tools. If you are looking for the way a specific tribe/people made arrows then further research will be required as with any book on this subject. It does however give some detailed information on the arrow crafting techniques of some plains Indians.

I believe this book is a "must-buy"; whether you want to discover the wonders of Native American traditional medicines or just interested in herbs. It's easy to read, and Dr. Cichoke provides the remedies for many illnesses.

A magnificent compendium of Native American cures and treatments, which are just the thing unless you are actually, you know, sick.

Another book you don't loan out, you'll miss having it for reference.

It lists recipes for ailments, and companies where you can purchase the items needed in the mixes.

I had to buy more than one, one for loans, one for keeps.

The best advice is also given in this book, just because one mix worked for another, it may not be the same for you. We are all different, and so are the many different species of plants. So it doesn't just give you one recipe for one ailment, unlike so many other herbal books.

All of the history buffs and Native American descendants and people in general should buy this book to have a bigger and brighter outlook on the "indians" that our country so badly abused and misunderstood.

Amazing book.

This book is a compilation of first-person accounts of various native American Indians (natives) from the 1700s to the 1900s, focusing mainly in the period 1800s. With the stereotyping of native American Indians (natives) in Hollywood movies such as Dances with the Wolves, where they were portrayed as savages or barbarians, this book serves to give a thought-provoking perspective as seen from another view point. This book comprises of 4 sections or periods of their life in chronological order; (i) in their native environment (ii) slow and increasing emergence of the white men (iii) the eventual domination of white men over the natives (iv) life in the assigned and restricted Indian reservation regions.

From this book, I gained a better understanding of how the natives viewed the world, their beliefs and their lifestyles. They have a reverence for the everyday environment, such as the lands, animals, objects which made up the environment they lived in. An environment that is integrally interwoven with the Indian life. They have the wisdom about having the needs to establish the right relationship with the land and resources, otherwise destruction of Indians will be followed by destruction of nature and in the destruction of nature will be followed by the destruction of ourselves. It has been about 30 years since the first release of this book. And the state of the present world is such that we are not preserving the environment as much as we should.

The natives were not destructive. They would shake down acorns, pinenuts and use dead wood instead of chopping down living trees. On the other hand, the white men were viewed as destructive, causing destruction to the environment with the gains subjected to only themselves.. As an example, during the 19th century gold-mining era, they would blow up where ever they suspected there were treasures. They tended to blow up the ground, pulled down the trees, blasted rocks and scattered them onto the grounds. Once these treasures were found, they tended to grap only the treasures and left all trash behind.

With the current issues we are facing in the 21st century such as global warming, this book ended up being a self-reflection of what we humans had done in the past 3 decades. For all the advancements made (such as technologically, medically), where do these changes lead us towards? And it seems that we are and have been truly destructive to our environments.

In addition, the natives had a keen observation; " An animal depends a great deal on the natural conditions around it...... We see the change in our ponies. In the old days, they could stand great hardship and travel long distance without water. They lived on certain kinds of food and drank pure water. Now our horses require a mixture of food, they have less endurance and must have constant care". From their account, I shared a similar view as humans living in the present versus those living in the past. Unfortunately, we are sharing similar transformations as the ponies and horses.

As history has shown, every treaty had resulted in the disappearances of wild life. For example, in 1877, Blackford Confederacy ceded 50,000 square miles to the Canadian government, a treaty which led to the rapid disappearances of buffaloes and near starvation. There used to be so many bisons that they could not be counted, but more and more Wasichus (white men) came to kill them until there were only heaps of bones scattered where they used to be. The white men did not kill the bisons to eat, but rather for the hides to sell. Sometimes they killed them just for fun and ecstasy of enjoyment. On the other hand, the natives hunted the bisons only for what they needed as food.

The natives, tribes by tribes, from the Sioux to the Cheyennes, fought losing wars and were forced into treaties. Eventually, they were forced to migrate to less fertile reservation regions. If these reservation regions were found to contain minerals (coals, gold, etc), the previous treaties were likely to be voided and new treaties issued such as to reclaim those lands. While they were in these reservation regions, the populations slowly declined as they were subjected to a different lifestyle, (more processed) food and systems. And when they were in such a poor declining state, some of the native leaders being caught in a dilemma, had to humble themselves and plead with the American government for the permission to return to their original native regions where they once formerly thrived.

It is truly heart rendering to witness the pride and then ending in humility these natives had to undergo. I am not without guilt for the way the world has ended today. So it is really up to each of us to determine and preserve our values and to learn to respect the cultures of others.

In a nutshell this book is a compilation of quotations from many Native Americans.

However this book expands far beyond that nutshell. It shows many sides of Indian thought and belief interweaving both spirituality and history. The book is organised in an affective way, first having quotations showing the Indians willingness to co-exist with the white man and slowly that willingness fading into bitterness and anger as the settlers destroyed the land and displaced the Indians from their ancestral homes.

Even though 'Touch the Earth' might seem like an potentially depressing book it is very far from that. I found it very uplifting. Many of the quotations spoke to some deep part of my heart that made my soul smile. The archive pictures through out the book alone make me love it. It is a book full of words from wise men, so inspiring yet at other moments so anguished.

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the Sunset." -- Crowfoot

"I hear no longer the songs of the women as they prepare the meal. The antelope have gone; the buffalo wallos are empty. [...] We are like birds with a broken wing. My heart is cold within me. My eyes are growing dim - I am old..." -- Chief Plenty-Coups

The one thing I will say about "Touch the Earth" is that you have to be in the right mood to read it. Most people cannot sit down and read a book cover to cover that is filled with quotation after quotation. Also some things that are said are so deep that I just had to sit for awhile and think about them. If you are not the type of person who liked history this is not the kind of book for you. However if the history of the Native American's fascinated you, as it does me, I would definitely recommend this gem.

Have you ever at any time in your life truly felt connected to the earth, all its inhabitants, the plants, the rocks, the wind? Touch the Earth is almost like a Native American prayer book and it examines this direct connection between our land's original inhabitants and their world around them. Not only did they feel this connection, but they lived it every day. Consequently they did not understand the White Man and his only going to church on Sundays.

As I've read and reread my copy, I often wonder what it would be like if we had respect for all the things created by God's hand instead of for only the ones we pick and choose to respect and honor. By favoring one species over another, we have dangerously tipped the ecological balance and not in a good way. By failing to understand the links between all the elements that make up the earth, we humans are well on our way to fouling our own nest.

I recommend reading this book late at night just before bedtime. Read only one or two essays at a time and allow the words to resonate with you in the quiet. Perhaps you will be reminded why it is important to Touch the Earth, our Mother.

The letter from Chief Seattle to the US President.. "How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? ..." and the vision of Black Elk ..."The sacred hoop of his people was only one of many hoops, all joined together to make one great circle, the great hoop of all peoples.." brought home to me the fact that the Native American philosophy of living has so much to teach us. They were closely connected to the earth, loved and respected it, while we treat it with violence; they were closely connected to our universal Mother and seemed to truly understand humankind's place in the universe while we trust in our technology and the wealth it brings us. The Native Americans appeared to have lived their lives with their two natures - materialistic and spiritual - in harmony while we have over emphasized the material and neglected the spiritual. While we cannot turn the clock back and ride horses and live in tents - nor would we want to - but surely there must be some principles that they incorporated into their lives which we can discover and build into our lives to help redress the balance of our two natures. So I turned to this book to see if there is some Native American wisdom which would enrich my life. I was certainly encouraged by the Book of-the-Month Club comment on the back cover "Simply but eloquently, the selections tell of the Indians' relationship with the earth, their kinship with all of nature's creatures, and their unity with the elements. They speak of the harmony that existed between the Indian and the land, a harmony that was disrupted as 'the hairy man from the east' encroached still further into their territory." and ".. one cannot help but be struck anew by their wisdom and their prophetic vision..."

I read this passage in the introduction: "In this book, the Indians speak for themselves, of the quality of their life. The passages that make up the book have been taken from speeches of Indians living in all parts of the North American continent, between the 16th and 20th centuries. They speak with courtesy and respect of the land, of animals, of the objects which made up the territory in which they lived. They saw no virtue in imposing their will over their environment: private acquisition, almost without exception, was to them a way to poverty, not to riches. The meaning of their life was identified through their relationships with each other and their homelands - all of which was given depth and resonance by memory" and understood that here in this volume I would find what I was looking for. Many of the passages reflect attempts by the Indians to offer their ideas to the whiteman but we responded by destroying their way of life and with it much of the wisdom we need today. We are indeed fortunate to have this collection to refer to. We cannot turn the clock back; we cannot undo the deeds of prior generations. But perhaps we can at least take the trouble to reflect on what these wise people were trying to teach our forebears and perhaps we will find some words of wisdom that will help us to live our lives with our two natures - materialistic and spiritual - more closely in balance.

If we fail to do this I fear that the prophecy in the introduction will come true. "It is well understood that the only decent future for us who live in America now is through a rediscovery of our environment. We need to establish a right relationship with the land and its resources; otherwise, the destruction of the Indian will be followed by the destruction of nature; and in the destruction of nature will follow the destruction of ourselves."

This a big, big, BIG book. It's a somewhat extravagant treat, granted, but oh so worth it! Beautifully put together, excellent photographs, fascinating subject. Just one warning to non-Hindi speakers: Indians have the delightful habit of flowing in and out of several languages at once. It's a charming trait, actually, and it works well if you happen to be fluent in the two languages that are being used in the same sentence. This works well for the Indian market, of course, and the NRI market, probably. But it's not so great for the NII market (the Non-Indian Indian market)that a growing number of Europeans and Americans belong to. I am so fond of SRK films that I've started learning Hindi. But the pitiful few words I've managed to learn do not begin to help me understand some of the many Hinglish phrases contained in this book. Still and all, if you're a Khan fan, this book is a must.

I purchased this as an anniversary gift for a friend who is a huge SRK fan. I was very pleased with the service- I did expedited service and the book arrived in 2 days as I expected. It is a big thick coffee table style book with never before seen pictures of SRK and his family and interesting information. I would rate it 5 stars, if it were not for the price. At about $60 including shipping, I thought the price is a bit steep, although SRK fans might find it worth every cent!

It is a book for all seasons; a book that should be on the coffee table-- picked up and read at any time; a book full of text and photos both inside and outside his cinematic life; a book of biography and filmography; an art book; a fun book featuring many photos of his film faces (remember Manu as a lady-of-the-night??) and much, much more.
Mustaq Shiekh, author: 'the book is a tale of a journey that led from New Delhi into the homes, hearts and minds of innumerable fans all over the world, and a journey that transcended boundaries of nations and the artificial barriers of culture'.

OF course...by far he is the best in Bollywood!!!! My sister was the happiest person in the world to receive this gift for her birthday! She loves KING KHAN!!! ......who doesnt???!!!!

If you like scrap book format coffee table books, then this is the book to get. Each page is filled with enough color and sites to keep any guest awake through the wee hours of a party when the crowds have thinned out or are too drunk to talk. The book is a lively walk through the actor's life from his parents' first meeting to his super stardom as the "King of Bollywood." But the story does not stop there, this is more than just an actor's ego centric ramble. The book takes you on a journey through Bollywood and Indian culture both in the past and today. I would recommend this book to anyone to loves Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood or colorful visual adventures.
If you want to see a good example of his acting then buy Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Shahrukh Khan)