World of the American Indian, The

Used/Native American Studies. Book is in very good condition, with clean and crisp pages free of marks and tearing. Jacket cover is worn at the edges of the book, otherwise in good condition.

Synopsis:

With the measured dignity of some timeless Indian chant the words come rolling: You see, I stand in good relation to the earth... You see, I am alive, I am alive.

That expression of the North American Indian's personal philosophy sets a cadence in the opening chapter of this book. It is a view of a world in balance, of man in harmony with the earth and all things on it. Untold centuries of adaptation to the environment forged the equations. They echo today among a people whose rebounding numbers total perhaps as many as when Columbus arrived to call them "Indios."

Descendants of Ice Age Asiatics, aboriginal Americans developed cultures as varied as the regions they settled. Life-styles blossomed in rich array. Now, in 400 fact-filled pages of this remarkable volume, you can explore those many fascinating worlds.

Ten distinguished scholar-authors four of them of Indian descent-guide you. Dare flashing flukes of a whale with intrepid seaman of the Pacific northwest and join in their elaborate potlatches. Play stickball-"younger brother of war"-with woodland farmers or go on a Iroquois raid. Count coup with Plains warriors, beseech rain gods with Hopi Snake dancers, learn that Indian languages-where one word may contain all the elements of a sentence-can hardly be called "primitive." Use the book's tribal supplement and 32 1/2 by 37 1/2-inch cultural map to discover details about nearly 600 times of the United States and Canada.

More than 440 illustrations-362 in full color- enrich this vivid account of the American Indian's beliefs, customs, crafts, and accomplishments. Latest addition to the Story of Man Library...