Meandering and often vague. Along with the wit, there is a heavy dose of theory, which is not particularly compelling. I learned a lot about Indian culture, but I also learned that white culture either doesn't exist or is founded on violence and exploitation.

A good chunk of the book is taken up with Deloria Jr.'s elevation of Indian culture above white (and specifically, American culture). For him, there is little (really, nothing) wrong with Indian culture, which is infinitely wise, holistic, and eternal. On the other hand, America and American culture are meaningless and have accomplished nothing.

It's not that I mind criticism of America — I just mind it when it isn't based on facts and history but rather, theory and ideology. Deloria Jr. essentially declares himself arbiter of culture and philosophy, with the power to crown Indian culture as the greatest of all human cultures in history.

Along with this is his less-than-subtle, somewhat prophetic declarations that Indians will one day drive whites out of America and retake their land. Again, I don't have a problem with the sentiment. But it's the "evidence" Deloria Jr. uses to back it up that is problematic. For example, he cites the restoration of Israel to the Jews as evidence that, like them, Indians will eventually retake their homeland. Not only is this an obviously fallacious argument, but it also relies upon "white culture's" artificial creation of Israel.

So the violent, destructive, possibly non-existent culture seems to have produced at least one thing upon which Deloria Jr. can hang his hat — Zionism.

Surprisingly funny! Writing has a real wit and a lot of info but some of the portions read a little dated (it was published in 1969 though so I can't fault it too much there)

Published in 1969, this is a series of essays on all aspects of Native American life, politics, humor, diaspora, re-tribalism. It’s a depressing history of America’s treatment of this population, but still Deloria gets some humor in the telling. He hypothesizes about how things will work out, and it would be interesting to have an update on certain situations (I know how things end with Vietnam and Nixon- ha).

I don't know why this is not required reading for everyone who gets an education in the United States. This book has fundamentally changed the way I think about a lot of things.

I thought this book was fantastic and insightful. The jokes were funny enough that I frequently shouted them across the apartment to my partner - and read aloud most of the chapter on anthropologists. I appreciated all of the social movement insights comparing urban/reservation Indians (his terminology!) as well as how many Indian political perspectives map onto the civil rights movement and Black power struggle. I appreciate the scope and depth of the book, since Deloria has such extensive political/advocacy experience. This really helped me learn about different political phases and treaty violations between indigenous people and the US government.