This was a hard read but a necessary one. King is an excellent writer and this is information that needs to be known.

(read as physical book>
What's it about?
It's a very chatty and personal account of relations between Native American and European settlers. It focuses on a limited number of themes, and draws connections between the current situation and past events.

What did I think?
This is a good book. It is well written and easy to read. Thomas King has many asides (such as saying that his wife Helen wanted him to mention this and that) - these help with making the book more engaging.

It is good that the book is engaging because it deals with pretty important and heavy stuff. I think that every Canadian should have an appreciation of how harshly and unfairly the government has treated Indigenous people's in the past and how this has contributed to the current issues that we all need to face. My biggest is takeaway is that I personally want to live in a country with a government that keeps it promises, and the Canadian government has not done so most of the time with Indigenous people.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand the history of relationship between colonizers/settlers and indigenous peoples in North America.

This book provided me with a wonderful overview of current issues in Canada. King does a wonderful job of providing insight into the horrible history of Canadian-Native relations, with a commendable detail and encouraging spirit. King's spirit bled through this text - a rational tone dosed with a justified anger - and conveyed just how real the Native experience is, something that is far too easily ignored and forgotten in modern Canadian society.

I really enjoyed this read, and am looking forward to expanding my understanding further.

This book pulled no punches, gave no benefits of the doubt, no excuses. It just states clearly that all whites have and do treat First Nations people with contempt and hate. And that actions of the past are on the hands of all past, present, and future whites. While the author is correct, treatment of First Nations has been terrible and unjust since North America was "Discovered" and we need to learn from the past to improve of the future. I am not saying he is wrong or right but simply that while he asked all Natives to not be painted with the same brush, neither should he to all whites. I don't know the solution moving forward to correct what has happened, the author states apologies are not enough. I think it's an important first step in accepting responsibility. And yes should lead to action. The author was very unforgiving and perhaps he shouldn't be, but it came off as sarcastic, rude and close minded at times. The book itself was very interesting and I learned a lot, but also found it weighed down in facts and details that made it drag on a bit at times. It's an important book that everyone needs to read and examine themselves afterwards. It's a great way to get the conversations started.