The Cost of Free Land

Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance

By: Rebecca Clarren

Narrated by: Rebecca Clarren

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2023

"Sharply insightful . . . A monumental piece of work."—The Boston Globe

An award-winning author investigates the entangled history of her Jewish ancestors' land in South Dakota and the Lakota, who were forced off that land by the United States government

Growing up, Rebecca Clarren only knew the major plot points of her tenacious immigrant family’s origins. Her great-great-grandparents, the Sinykins, and their six children fled antisemitism in Russia and arrived in the United States at the turn of the 20th century, ultimately settling on a 160-acre homestead in South Dakota. Over the next few decades, despite tough years on a merciless prairie and multiple setbacks, the Sinykins became an American immigrant success story.

What none of Clarren’s ancestors ever mentioned was that their land, the foundation for much of their wealth, had been cruelly taken from the Lakota by the United States government. By the time the Sinykins moved to South Dakota, America had broken hundreds of treaties with hundreds of Indigenous nations across the continent, and the land that had once been reserved for the seven bands of the Lakota had been diminished, splintered, and handed for free, or practically free, to white settlers. In The Cost of Free Land, Clarren melds investigative reporting with personal family history to reveal the intertwined stories of her family and the Lakota, and the devastating cycle of loss of Indigenous land, culture, and resources that continues today.

With deep empathy and clarity of purpose, Clarren grapples with the personal and national consequences of this legacy of violence and dispossession. What does it mean to survive oppression only to perpetuate and benefit from the oppression of others? By shining a light on the people and families tangled up in this country’s difficult history, The Cost of Free Land invites readers to consider their own culpability and what, now, can be done.

©2023 Rebecca Clarren (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A monumental piece of work… Clarren felt the urgent need to understand just how much her family had benefitted from the genocide and erasure of its land’s first people. The result is what will become a classic of personal journalism and memoir, a book to join Jesmyn Ward’s “Men We Reaped,” Terry Tempest Williams’ “Refuge” and Elissa Washuta’s “White Magic” as examples of work that sees the clear link between the personal and American culture and history.”—The Boston Globe

"With her pow­er­ful book, Clar­ren not only shares this hid­den his­to­ry, but continues to ​‘pur­sue jus­tice, to repair the world, to take respon­si­bil­i­ty for our part.'"—Jewish Book Council

"A timely new investigation . . . [the book] is inspiring important conversations across Jewish and indigenous communities about space, identity, and family history."—Lilith

Engaging and thought provoking

Extensively researched, well written interwoven stories of Jewish settler experiences and Native American experiences, noting some remarkable similarities between the two. Very nicely read by the author. The Native American history is a nice primer (including first person stories) for those unfamiliar with that material, and a stark, condensed reminder for those who already have some familiarity with the travesty.

Very informative

I loved this book (audible version) and hope it reaches far and wide. Thank you Rebecca!

Important and Personal History, Masterfully Told

A very important book to humanize and help people understand so much more about how our country was built to the detriment and near genocide of the Native Americans. Personal histories of two families and two peoples weave back and forth into broad historical context, building interesting and accessible stories, investigation, and skilled research. Clarren ends with suggestions as to how take some responsibility and move forward.

Unique investigation of links between two threads of western expansion and U. S. Government Policies

The honesty with which Beck illustrates and acknowledges her early cluelessness about the Lakota perspective on land, where their people used to live is one thing I really appreciated. She uses that as a foundation for her investigation, and as a springboard for the non-Reader, who most likely is as ignorant in her first threat trip through Lakota lands. The story of her family’s flight from the Russian programs in Odessa, and their immigrant perspective living on hard to farm land though free of the Tsar’s persecution is a counterpoint to the story of the Lakota, who had that just been pushed off their land by the broken treaties, and policies of the United States government. Becca’s narration includes pretty much verbatim conversations with Lakota leaders, as well as with her rabbi in the books, con. I also appreciated her sharing examples of some organizations’ efforts to remedy the injustices of the past as well as of her own family’s specific steps in that endeavor.

Well done. A great read and well-woven story of facts and stories abound

Ending seems a bit like a cliffhanger. When’s the sequel book?? I’ll be a reader of it! :-)