Indian Givers

How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World

By: Jack Weatherford

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

After 500 years, the world's huge debt to the wisdom of the Indians of the Americas has finally been explored in all its vivid drama by anthropologist Jack Weatherford. He traces the crucial contributions made by the Indians to our federal system of government, our democratic institutions, modern medicine, agriculture, architecture, and ecology, and in this astonishing, ground-breaking book takes a giant step toward recovering a true American history.

Listen to An Interview with Author Jack Weatherford.

©1989 Jack Weatherford (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"By showing how the world was changed through these contributions, the author gives a greater appreciation of the Indians of America to readers. A fine synthesis book for global studies programs as well as American history." ( School Library Journal)

Excellent!!

I have listened to 3 of Jack Weatherford's book, and have enjoyed them all. I would recommend his books to anyone!

Very interesting book

I listened to this book while getting ready for bed. I did sometimes fall asleep before the chapter finished and had to go back and find the part where I drifted off but it was very interesting and I enjoyed the fact that I could start fresh with each chapter and it did not matter if I had taken a day or two off or not. I feel I learned many things I had never realized.

Basic to understanding Native American history!

A wonderful writer and storyteller, capturing the human as well as historical context of Native America's contributions to the world.

Great choice of narrator.

A must read on American Indians

great research and insides from the author. a unique inside into American Indian and their contribution to the world civilization.

So much I didn't know!

I am simply astonished at how many things I had never heard about that were so pivotal to modern history! And never has history been presented to me in such a compelling, engaging fashion. Well done, Jack! I really hope Audible will offer many more of his books in the future.

Must Read

Jack Weatherford has delivered us a must read book. I believe it should become mandatory reading for all high school students.

Excellent

What made the experience of listening to Indian Givers the most enjoyable?

Unbelievable how poorly my school grade information was skewed concerning the true accounts of the American Indian and Columbus. I was thoroughly amazed at how much we missed learning from them from the start of America's Discovery.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/a

What does Victor Bevine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a great way of pronouncing names I couldn't begin to try and say.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I found the book very plausible and it explained each sides understanding. It made clear why so much of the American Indian's lives were not expressed properly in past accounts of their history, as well as, telling the untold story.

Incredible

Class text, but I found it to be an enlightening look into the world in which we now live and take for granted, and those that never received the credit they deserved. I am so glad it was assigned reading. Excellent reading by Victor Bevine.

If you desire to connect the dots from then to now

then you should read this book. So much of what we are experiencing today has its roots in the experience, wisdom and ultimately the genocide of Native Americans. So many of best ideas in the modern world came from them. And while this book is filled with facts, figures and historical information... it was so interesting that I stayed up late listening. Of course, I think Victor Bevine could read a Dell Technical manual and I would find it engaging lol. Do yourself a favor... this one is worth your time.

Starts slowly, but rapidly picks up steam

I love these kinds of books. The first couple chapters were a bit worrying, in that it seemed to me to focus more on the European, African and Asian adaptations of the pre-American techniques, rather than the people and processes of the new world. But as it proceeded, it did shift focus and gave considerable credit where it was due.

The result is that it was much more balanced in the end, showing both the origins and the spread and adaptations abroad. Though for more specific details on some topics, particularly agriculture, Charles C. Mann's books 1491 and 1493 are great companion books.

My favorite part was the chapter on politics, detailing how current government ideals were derived far more from the Iroquois than from any old world source, contemporaneous or classical.