Hi! I'm on the hunt for more book recommendations about pre-Columbian history for my dad. He's long been fascinated by Native American history (in particular Mississippian, and more specifically the Arkansan area. The Plum Bayou Mound Archaeological State Park, for example, is on his "want to go to" list). He has never really had the means to learn more, due to time and monetary constraints. I aim to remedy that for him.
I bought him 1491 a couple years ago, and for Christmas this year, I got him Life and Death at Windover by Rachel k. Wentz. I have Maize for the Gods, and Timothy Pauketat's Cahokia on my "To Gift Dad" list, which I got from the Ask Historians reading list. Besides more of Mr. Pauketat's books, who are some other authors that are exceptional? On top of factual books, specific to our area (Arkansas) Native American spirituality/myth recommendations would also be appreciated.
He likes factual stuff, and he's a pretty logical person. He's a really slow, methodical reader (but apparently devoured 1491! I'd never seen him read a book that fast before). He's enjoying the Windover book currently.
I appreciate any assistance! Thanks so much!
I'm going to recommend some of my favorites below, in a rough order of increasing difficulty for an absolute newbie.
An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is a great place to start after 1491 if you want a grand overview of indigenous history from an indigenous historian. Very helpful and engaging for absolute newbies.
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuer is another great book from an indigenous historian, and as the title indicates, explores more recent history. A good general introduction if he, like most people, kinda loses the thread of Native American history after 1890 and he wants to follow their story into the present.
Daniel Richter Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America is a great introduction to eastern North American history, and helps to shift your understanding of the narrative of contact away from the European perspective, and instead anchoring the story in Indian Country.
Andrés Reséndez The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America is the single best introduction to understand the temporal, geographic, and cultural magnitude of the native slave trade in the Spanish Empire. Absolutely vital for understanding the history of the Americas, and almost no one outside of history nerds has heard about the impact of indigenous slavery on the history of the New World.
Jeffrey Ostler Surviving Genocide: Native Nations and the United States from the American Revolution to Bleeding Kansas is an amazing book that details the violence of early U.S. Indian policy, and the creation of an unhealthy world for Native Americans. Ostler details how Native nations fought for sovereignty in the face of an aggressive, expansive neighbor bent on their removal. This is part one, a forthcoming part two will focus more on the western experience, and I really can't wait.
Colin Calloway One Vast Winter Count: The Native American West Before Lewis and Clark is the best introduction and overview of the American West. I absolutely adore this book. I recommend it all the time because it blew my mind the first time I read it. This is a denser read, but absolutely chocked full of great information.
Hope this helps you find him books!