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

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - a most moving reprint

I think I need to read Dee Brown's book, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, every year or two in order to remind myself of the cruelty of those who came before us. Are we still a cruel nation? I am certain that those dealing with Native Americans in the 19th century felt there were not; but this book, most of it told from the perspective of Native Americans, screams that many were indeed cruel. Many American leaders, military, and citizens had no respect for the rights of Native American and they took not only their lands, but their very souls as they marched across the American continent. Though many of the pictures and art work do not always portray these native people naturally, they do add to a better understanding of the story that Mr. Brown wanted us to discover - "often another person's perspective is different from my own." Peace can only be achieved universally if we begin to understand that we are all different and should be treated with respect as to our own beliefs and life styles.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I've read the book three times over the years since it was first published. It documents very clearly the practice of genocide by our forefathers and our government driven by greed. A very proud nation was, for all practical purposes, wiped of the face of the earth. I was recently pleasantly surprised to fine a local high school using this book for a history class. It should be mandatory reading in every school in the United States.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

THANKS FOR THE TRUTH!, a few of us knew, no one believed

this book should be mandatory reading for all americans. the sand creek horor has been buried for years, now we can read the truth. well documented. i loan this book, give it away, anything to have it read.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Will The Real Savages Please Stand

I read this book several years ago and lost the copy in one of my moves to another home. I purchased another copy and read it again and now that I am older I understand more of how the white man and his greed is like being tied to a rock at the bottom of a waterfall that never stops pounding at you. To this day it still hasn't stopped. This book gives a very detailed, accurate account of what Native American Indians had to put up with then and now, and what sacrifices they made when the arrogant white man started his lying, thieving, and robbing, not only their lands, but their life and livelihood as well. It's no different today, and it's still going on, but thank God Dee Brown wrote an accurate account of what really happened, instead of the fabricated lies that have been perpetuated by the whites for years and years.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

My Personal thoughts on the book: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

I thought this book was very interesting. It seems to be an accurate description of the history of the Native Americans. And the battles that were fought between them and the 'white men'. I greatly enjoyed this book. The only thing that I thought monotonous about it was that it became quite boring after awhile.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A book to display, and to read with family

This book is presentation quality with deep information and leads to analysis of the entire topic of native Americans in the USA. I gaave this to my son, who was amazed. His children put down their presents to read pages and pictures. We discused it all day. Thank you for a really wonderful book.

10 Stars if I could

When I first read BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE by Dee Brown in high school, then again in college, I felt like a lance punctured my Soul. This was before I saw my adoption file and learned that 25% of my blood flowing throughout my body is Shawnee. I must have known, because this book not only saddened me; my heart burned with a white coal anger that increased when I visited Wounded Knee and the reservation that Chivington created in the Badlands. Two-thirds of American Indians were killed by that murderous skunk and other military personnel between 1860 and 1890, one full generation.

Brown wanted to tell the story from the Indian point of view, from the West looking eastward, because America¿s indigenous peoples had been pushed from their lands by our European ancestors through deception, broken promises, and whole scale massacre. It was time to tell the story ¿how the West was won¿ from the defeated gentle, proud people who cared for mother Earth by taking only her resources they needed for food, clothing, and shelter. They were the first true conservators of the land we call the lower 48. They were a great spiritual people too with each tribe having a different language, but virtually the same hieroglyphics and Elders that kept their histories reciting tribal events in lyrical oral histories. And Dee Brown used these oral histories, Council proceedings, U.S. Government documents (including treaties,) and eye-witness accounts to give us a richly textured panoramic history in thumbnail accounts beginning with Columbus to finally the massacre at Wounded Knee.

The sub-title ¿An Indian History of the American West¿ is misleading, because to present 30 years in a 512 paged book is not a definitive history. Brown gives us snippets that flow as the Indian Tribes do, first out of New England, through the Midwest, across the Mississippi and finally through the Plains States. These snippets remind me of rich, textured pieces of fabric that when sown together they make a beautiful quilt of memories that inspires studious reflection, and perhaps discussion. He tries to answer why our European ancestors wanted to completely dominate the New World and ALL of its inhabitants. The tribes weren¿t even safe from military action during the Civil War, Gold was found in the Western Territories, and the Tribes were in the Way. Leaders like Andrew Jackson and the Blue coated Military men didn¿t help either. They hated the Indians. And their promised land past the Great Mississippi failed to appear due to the invention of the ¿Manifest Destiny.¿

Back Elk says it best, ¿I did not know then how much was ended. When I look back from this high hill of my old age, I can still see the butchered women and children lying heaped and scattered all long the crooked gulch as plain as I saw them with eyes still young. And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people¿s dream died there. It was a beautiful dream¿the nation¿s hoop is broken and scattered. There is no center any longer, and the sacred tree is dead.¿

A U.S. History Book Report Review; very good read.

Heart broken: crushed with sorrow or greif. This is exactly how I felt after reading this book. It truly shows the horrors of what happend during the removal of Native Americans in the United States. This s a very touching book and really makes you think "what if this happend to me or my family?"
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history and learning about Native Americans. There is so much history packed into the pages of this book. For me, I liked it that way but other people may not enjoy it as much.
Overall, I would say this book is a must read. It talks about a topic not necesarily known to as many people. None of the less, it is still an important event in our history and must never be forgotten. read this book.

Highly Recommended for History or Everyday Read

Edward Whitewolf Very Interesting Book Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown Star Rating 5 Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee is a very interesting story about the Lakota Sioux in the late 1800s. This book gives a very detailed, story of what Native Americans had to put up with then, what they went through when the white man started lying to them, robbing their lands, and also murdering them. Dee Brown wrote an accurate story of what really happened, instead of the lies that have been told by the whites for years and years.

AP World History Review; An Eye Opening Tragedy

Dee Brown writes of the injustices done to the Native Americans by the invading whites. This book shows the Westward movement of the colonists from the Native American's point of view. Brown successful demonstrates the deception of the settler's and the evil brought on by the idea of Manifest Destiny. The book reveals the Native American's struggle against misrepresentation and deception. I would greatly recommend this book for those who have read elementary school, history book that shows the Native Americans as a petty resistance in the course to colonizing the West. Dee contradicts these history books that are slightly biased. the stereotype of the Native Americans being savages and the American generals being triumphant and glorious appears in most books and Dee Brown shows the other side of the story, the Native American's side.

Highly Recommended

A must read for everyone who is interested native Americans!

Truth

The epitome of Native American histories written by a white man. A far cry from the biased and racist histories of American Indians taught in our schools for generations.
I recommend this book to everyone.

Heartbreaking

A heartbreaking and informative look at Native American life. Its the other side of the story and for me, filled in blanks left by high school history.

Buried My Heart As Well

This is a probing and disturbing history of the American West and unveils in details the cruelity of man against man and especially white man against Native Americans. Hadn't felt such force within my soul since reading of the Cherokee Trail of Tears in Jerry Ellis' book, Walking the Trail, One Man's Journey Along the Cherokee Trail of Tears.

What we didn't learn in school and aught to know

This is a must read book for anyone interested in US history. Until reading this book in the mid 1970's my view of the west and native Americans came from John Wayne and John Ford westerns. This book changed forever my view of movie westerns and western iconography, and of the history of our western expansion. Besides being essential reading on US history it is also very well written, touching and engrossing. Each chapter can stand on its own. At the start of each chapter the author also provides a quick list of historical events occurring simultaneous to the events in the book, providing an interesting perspective on what follows. Please read Burry My Heart At Wounded Knee, you will be entertained and moved.

Made me Sad & Angry

Even the most hardened person cannot read 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee' without crying and feeling angry while reading this remarkable book. It details, from the Native American point of view, the darkest and most shameful chapter in American history. I believe this book is the finest and most accurate account of the murder and destruction of the Native Americans. This book should be required reading for all students to learn about the real history of what happened to Native Americans.

Just a great book

Have read the book three times. Each chapter is like a short story, yet it all ties together. Great depth and feeling. A must for history buffs.

Wonderful Reading! Every human person should read this book!

...Wounded Knee was an excellent read. I first read about it when I was assigned to do a project for my US History class. I really felt sorrow and sadness in my heart for the people in the book. All in all, I still loved the story!

Masterpiece

Cold-blooded truth of America's real history. A masterpiece of american literature...

Every 'white' american should read this.

If you profess to have any empathy towards Native Americans, this is required reading. From the opening pages that detail the rape of the country by Christopher Colunbus to the takeover by the explorers, it will shock you and hopefully make you think. I highley recommend this to anyone who would like to find out where their ancestors come from, for I feel that we all come from eventually the same place, and that we all are God's children in the end.