Glad you are interested in Native North American history. It is an absolutely fascinating subject, with plenty of areas to explore!

Do you have a specific time or place of interest? I'll recommended my two favorite introductions below, but if you are interested in a particular place, or a nation, or a time period we can make further recommendations.

One of my favorite introductions is Daniel Richter Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America. This a great introduction to eastern North American history, and can serve as a solid foundation for further reading. The big appeal of this book, and why I highly recommend it to newbies, is Richter shifts the narrative of contact away from the European perspective by anchoring the story in Indian Country. Usually the story of contact is told from the European perspective, looking west, as it were. Richter switches our vantage point and looks east, from a richly inhabited landscape of dynamic nations growing and adapting as contact unfolds.

Colin Calloway One Vast Winter Count: The Native American West Before Lewis and Clark is a denser read, and a longer book, but please don't let that scare you away. He put together a tremendous overview of the history of the West, from initial migration to sustained European contact. I absolutely adore this book because he weaves together the complex tapestry of human history in the West. Such a great volume, and a great place to start your reading journey.

Happy reading!